Graphic reading: Teachers Advisory CouncilContent warning: This article discusses suicide. If you or anyone you know is struggling, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

(FRANKFORT, KY) – Members of the Kentucky Department of Education’s (KDE’s) Teachers Advisory Council learned about upcoming suicide prevention training for school staff and students during their Sept. 17 meeting.

Margaret Sumney, education administration program consultant in KDE’s Office of Continuous Improvement and Support’s Division of Student Success, spoke about Youth Mental Health First Aid and Adult Mental Health First Aid, two all-day training sessions for adults that are offered by KDE.

The Youth Mental Health First Aid session goes over typical signs of adolescent development and how to distinguish those from the signs and symptoms of mental health challenges. Sumney said it’s important for teachers to be able to recognize when students are struggling.

“It is not your job as a mental health first aid (professional) to provide (counseling) services for kids, but it is our job as trusted adults to recognize signs and symptoms of mental health challenges to connect them with appropriate professional help,” Sumney said.

KDE will be hosting a Youth Mental Health First Aid training on Oct. 21 and Adult Mental Health First Aid training on Oct. 28. The training will teach the skills needed to provide support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem and help connect them to the appropriate care. Both sessions will be in-person at KDE’s office in Frankfort.

KDE also works with Sources of Strength, a student-led suicide prevention and mental health promotion program that offers training for youth and adults in secondary schools and community-based settings. Sources of Strength also has an elementary model featuring a K-5 curriculum.

Sources of Strength focuses on addressing mental health needs before people reach a crisis point by concentrating on eight protective factors: family support, positive friends, mentors, healthy activities, generosity, spirituality, physical health and mental health.

Sumney encouraged teachers to focus on one or two of these areas where they excel at helping students.

The Sources of Strength model includes building a community of strength by pairing adult advisors with peer leaders, who are students who have influence within their social group. Sumney said it’s good to involve a variety of students and social groups to reach the full school community.

Students and adults can then spread strategic messaging campaigns to engage and interact with students and apply messages throughout the school. Campaigns can include self-reflection, wall displays, social media and presentations, which can be integrated into classwork. These campaigns can change cultural dynamics within the school.

A study published by the American Journal of Preventive Medicine in 2025 found that the Sources of Strength Secondary Program interventions reduced the overall odds of a new suicide attempt by 29%.

Sumney said there is funding available for any Kentucky school who wants to participate in the Sources of Strength training. KDE helps secure funding for schools through Kentucky’s Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities and the nonprofit Brothers’ Run.

Sumney said anyone interested in Sources of Strength training can email Sumney.

Lastly, Sumney talked about the importance of an interconnected systems framework in schools. The framework connects Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports with mental health resources and other school resources. The system allows more teachers to collaborate to help students who need support across all kinds of behavioral, academic and mental health spheres.

School staff can register online for any of the following training sessions on mental health:

Positive Behavior Intervention Supports (PBIS) – the online meeting links will be sent one week prior to each session:

  • PBIS Overview: Sept. 30 (10-11 a.m. ET)
  • PBISApps/Assessment: Oct. 14 (1-2 p.m. ET)

Youth Mental Health First Aid:

  • Oct. 21 (8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. ET) at the Kentucky Department of Education, Frankfort

Adult Mental Health First Aid:

  • Oct. 28 (8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. ET) at the Kentucky Department of Education, Frankfort

Early Warning/Insights/Tableau:

  • Nov. 19 (noon-3 p.m. ET) at the Kentucky Department of Education, Frankfort

CATCH My Breath vaping prevention:

  • Oct. 14 (9 a.m.-noon ET) at the Kentucky Department of Education, Frankfort.

September is also National Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month, a time for communities, organizations and schools to unite in support of mental health and well-being. To explore suicide prevention efforts across Kentucky and discover tools to help others, visit KDE’s Suicide Prevention and Awareness webpage.

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