Feb. 16, 2021 – This post has been updated. The original post is from Feb. 4, and is being saved below for archive purposes.
The theme and language chosen for this campaign overshadowed the critical need to help teens connect with resources for mental health and suicide prevention.
The district will continue the work on mental health and suicide prevention with appropriate revisions to the campaign to reach students in need as quickly as possible.
Below is a message from Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene to students.
From Dr. Greene:
Dear Students,
We launched a campaign earlier this month that had all the best intentions for supporting mental health and suicide prevention among teens. It is right to want to address these issues, especially in this unique pandemic time. Our timing was driven by the desire to reach struggling teens as quickly as possible, and I regret that the theme we chose has overshadowed this critical need.
While we seek a community in which teens are supported in mental health, I apologize for the language used to achieve that goal. We will continue the work on mental health and suicide prevention with appropriate revisions to the campaign to reach students in need as quickly as possible and certainly before they take any harmful action.
The events of the last few days, while sparked by the mental health campaign, have revealed opportunities to improve the educational experience for you and your peers. Many of you have already contacted me with specific ideas. I will be working with your principals to arrange a dialogue for later this month with your school’s student leaders. During this time, we can explore your ideas and move forward to improve our district and improve your experience.
I commend you on the maturity and character with which you have shared your thoughts. In many ways, you have made me proud to be your superintendent, and I look forward to the ongoing conversation.
Sincerely,
Dr. Diana Greene
Original post from Feb. 4, 2021
Feb. 4, 2021 – Team Duval is kicking off its first ever “You Matter Month” – 28 days dedicated to suicide prevention and awareness.
Check out the student PSA above and important resources below.
Also, please monitor the district’s social media throughout this month for important resources and information.
Remember, it’s okay to #TakeOffYourMask and ask for help.
