American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Partners with GoGuardian to Provide Free Trainings in Schools

Launched during National Suicide Prevention Month, new K-12 technology and free trainings are available to help schools address youth suicide public health crisis

NEW YORK--()--American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) today announced that they are providing free, on-site, suicide prevention trainings for school administrators, teachers, students, and their parents through their partnership with GoGuardian, a leading education technology provider. This training will be included in every purchase of the suicide prevention tool GoGuardian BeaconTM, which alerts school staff when students exhibit online behaviors that may indicate risk for suicide.

This is the first time that AFSP has partnered with a technology company; this partnership underscores the central role technology plays in helping schools proactively identify at-risk students and quickly get them the help they need. A recent CDC study found that 16 percent of school-aged children have considered suicide. Recent data indicates that the majority of youth who experience depression use digital tools to learn about dealing with depression or other mental health concerns.

“We put student potential and well-being at the center of our technology, and our proprietary machine learning platform uniquely provides K-12 students with a better education experience that supports their mental health and safety,” commented Advait Shinde, CEO of GoGuardian.

“Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people; schools across the U.S. have made it a priority to be a critical part of the safety net for our youth. By partnering with GoGuardian, we have the opportunity to help schools and parents detect when kids are struggling and help them build the strongest approach possible to preventing suicide,” said Dr. Christine Moutier, AFSP’s Chief Medical Officer.

AFSP’s More than Sad trainings teach educators how to recognize signs of mental health distress in students and share best practices on helping at-risk students. To date, more than 1 million students and educators have completed the training. By partnering with GoGuardian, AFSP chapters will provide their in-person suicide prevention trainings at no cost.

ABOUT GOGUARDIAN BEACON

Beacon was built in collaboration with suicide prevention experts, including the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the American Association of Suicidology. Operating beyond simple keyword searches, Beacon is the only technology able to assess and alert based on what’s actively happening across students’ PCs in real-time, providing schools with immediate and actionable information. Schools are able to tailor Beacon to complement their existing suicide prevention protocols, notifying designated staff and parents so they are equipped to take quick action.

ABOUT GOGUARDIAN

GoGuardian has changed the way K-12 schools maximize the learning potential of every student. Its products help educators identify learning patterns, protect students from harmful and distracting content, and support students who are at risk of self-harm and suicide. With GoGuardian, educators can easily engage students with more effective resources and communication. No other tool provides such actionable insight into student needs, which is why 10,000 schools and 120,000 educators choose GoGuardian to engage with and protect over 5 million students. Learn more about GoGuardian’s industry-defining learning analytics, student engagement, and self-harm prevention products at www.goguardian.com.

ABOUT THE AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide. AFSP creates a culture that is smart about mental health through education and community programs, develops suicide prevention through research and advocacy, and provides support for those affected by suicide. Led by CEO Robert Gebbia and headquartered in New York, and with a public policy office in Washington, D.C., AFSP has local chapters in all 50 states with programs and events nationwide. Learn more about AFSP in its latest Annual Report, and join the conversation on suicide prevention by following AFSP on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Contacts

GoGuardian
Rebecca Shaddix
becca@goguardian.com
888-310-0410 ex. 630
or
AFSP
Alexis O’Brien
aobrien@afsp.org
347-826-3577