WOMS Counselor’s Corner

September is Suicide Prevention Month

No one likes to talk about suicide, but it’s a subject that has to be addressed, especially when it comes to young children and teens.  According to current data, suicide is the leading cause of death among young people ages 15 to 24 in the United States.  In addition, according to Pew Research, “people 10-24 years old account for 14% of all suicides”  in the United States.  Therefore, even though it is a scary and uncomfortable topic, education and awareness are the keys to prevention.

September is Suicide Awareness Month and October is Mental Health Awareness Month.  The myths have been that if we don’t talk about suicide, they won’t think about it.  Unfortunately, they’re already talking about it with each other and learning about it on social media.  Take some time to educate yourself about the warning signs of self-harm and suicide, talk to your children, and please, don’t ever assume it cannot happen to your family.

See the resources below for further information, and if you ever have questions or concerns, please reach out.  If I do not have the answers, I will connect you with those who do.

 

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Welcome Back!

Parents and Students,

So far, we have had a great beginning to our new school year!  If you have not already met me, I am Jody Velde, the WOMS counselor!  I am entering my twentieth year at White Oak Middle School, and I am looking forward to working with you and your child this year!  I will make every effort to see that your child receives as much personal assistance as possible regarding their interests and issues in the areas of academic, career, personal, emotional, and social development.  The following services will be offered for the 2024-2025 school year:

  • Small group counseling sessions, with parent permission, for students focusing on topics such as study skills, friendship/social skills, anger management, divorce, grief, etc.  If you feel that your child needs assistance in any particular area, please let me know.
  • Individual meetings to help students adjust to school or help with personal issues on an as-needed basis.
  • Classroom guidance lessons with emphasis on personal/social skills, bullying prevention, growth mindset, career awareness, etc.
  • Referral assistance to other programs and services in the community.

If you have any questions regarding the counseling program, please contact me directly at 903.291.2082 or email me at [email protected].  Over the next few weeks, I will be adding parent resources and a parent referral form on this blog.  I look forward to working together with you this year to help ensure your child’s success in school and life in general. We are going to have a great year!

Sincerely,
Jody Velde
WOMS School Counselor

 

 

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