Service Reflection

The organization I volunteered with was SOS suicide prevention program partnered by Mental Health Screening (https://mentalhealthscreening.org/programs/youth). They are a non-profit organization that provides educational screening programs for depression, suicide, anxiety disorders, eating disorders and many more. Their mission is to, “Educate, raise awareness, and screen individuals for common behavioral and mental health disorders and suicide” (Screening for Mental Health).

On February 11, 2015 is the day the SOS program took place at my former high school Plainfield East. It ran from 7:05 am to the last class period at 2:10pm.

A social worker at Plainfield east and myself conducted the presentation. Sophomore students at Plainfield East were the target audience. Each period a new set of sophomores came to listen to the presentation. Freshmen, juniors and seniors were not allowed in this presentation.

I kept track of the timing of the presentation. Each presentation could only last 50 minutes for each class period. As I got comfortable with the information that had to be delivered in the presentation I took the initiative to tell some of the suicide stories provided in the SOS booklet handouts. My leader of the presentation/social worker presented and delivered all the information giving in the SOS presentation booklet. She talked about how to save lives, the risk factors, and got the crowd to participate.

The teachers of the sophomores did not have a role in the presentation. There only job was to bring all the sophomores to hear the presentation. I smiled a lot because I was being watched very often. During each presentation I was introduced as a former student from the high school and praised for going into the field of social work.

One effective situation that took place was as I told some suicide stories I gave the audience a chance to ask any questions or any concerns regarding depression and suicide. The students began to get very open because they felt we were of somewhat equal. They trusted me. They did not look at me as a parent or as a teacher they felt that they could be comfortable with me and I thought that was great. I was able to get insight on their thoughts and how they felt and that’s what the presentation was all about. Getting the teens to be open and feel like they have someone they can trust and confide to.

I learned about teen suicide and depression at my service. I did not know how much depression and suicide was linked together and I also did not know a wide number of teens were experiencing these problems. I’m still confused about what techniques and presentations are really helping teens. I’m learning what teens need and what kind of services/resources they need to help them and their depression. I would do this service again because I know it helped some teens. It got them to talk and to be open with one another.