CDC, Fairfax County Public Schools Holding Focus Groups on Suicide Prevention

Is there something about Fairfax County schools that is creating an atmosphere that is too stressful for its students?

Fairfax County Public Schools has teamed up with the Centers for Disease Control to explore suicide prevention and specifically looking at “school climate, peer pressure and bullying,” according to a report today by WTOP. Part of the prevention efforts include a series of meetings with area families beginning tonight (Monday night).

The focus groups scheduled this week are part of an attempt to address a spike in suicides in the area.

“Certainly we know that the primary risk factor is mental health issues,” Mary Ann Panarelli, Director of Fairfax County Public Schools Intervention and Prevention Services, told the radio station.

The locations and times are:

• Monday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m.: Virginia Hills Administrative Center, 6520 Diana Lane, Alexandria, 22310
• Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 7 p.m.: Leis Center, 7423 Camp Alger Ave., Falls Church
• Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m.: Mountain View Alternative High School, 5775 Spindle Court, Centreville

Suicides that have been reported have taken place in McLean, where two Langley High School students took their lives and in Fairfax, at W.T. Woodson HIgh School.

More information on suicide prevention can be found here, from Fairfax County.

Image courtesy of Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board