As a school based mental health provider Amit works with the building administrators, special services team, general education staff, and community to determine and prioritize mental health needs of the school. Mental health services are accessible to all students, staff, and parents in the Cherry Creek community.

For more information on Mental Health Services in Cherry Creek Schools, please visit the Cherry Creek School District Website.

Suicide is the third leading cause of death among youth between 10 and 19 years of age. However, suicide is preventable. Youth who are contemplating suicide frequently give warning signs of their distress. Parents, teachers, and friends are in a key position to pick up on these signs and get help. Most important is to never take these warning signs lightly or promise to keep them secret. When all adults and students in the school community are committed to making suicide prevention a priority—and are empowered to take the correct actions—we can help youth before they engage in behavior with irreversible consequences.

Suicide Warning Signs

Many suicidal youth demonstrate observable behaviors that signal their suicidal thinking.  These include:

• Suicidal threats in the form of direct and indirect statements.
• Suicide notes and plans.
• Prior suicidal behavior.
• Making final arrangements (e.g., making funeral arrangements, writing a will, giving away prized possessions).
• Preoccupation with death.
• Changes in behavior, appearance, thoughts and/or feelings.

Resiliency Factors

The presence of resiliency factors can lessen the potential of risk factors to lead to suicidal ideation and behaviors.  Once a child or adolescent is considered at risk, schools, families, and friends should work to build these factors in and around the youth. These include:

• Family support and cohesion, including good communication.
• Peer support and close social networks.
• School, family and community connectedness.
• Cultural or faith beliefs that strengthen parent/child relations.
• Adaptive coping and problem-solving skills, including conflict-resolution.
• General life satisfaction, good self-esteem, sense of purpose.
• Refusal skills to avoid risky behavior.
• Parent monitoring of social media, computer and cell phone use.

Please visit the CCSD website for more information about suicide prevention efforts in Cherry Creek Schools as well as community resources available to support students and families.

If you have concerns about the safety of a Cherry Creek School District Student please contact Safe2Tell, Colorado Crisis Services, National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or call 9-1-1.