Arcadia News: September marks National Suicide Prevention Month, a time to acknowledge lives lost and families impacted, as well as raise awareness and spread messages of hope. According to the Arizona Department of Health Services, youth suicide is the leading cause of death for ages 10-14 and 15-24.
Katey McPherson is one of the many mental health advocates who are on a mission to reduce suicide and save lives. As a mother to four teen daughters and a long-time educator, guidance counselor and school administrator, she knows how important it is to help teens through troubling times and show them that there is support for any struggles they may face.
Nine years ago, McPherson left her educator/counselor role with the Scottsdale and Gilbert School Districts to travel around Arizona and the United States to teach staff and parents about digital wellness and safety. The childhood advocate and education consultant has seen great strides in mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially in school settings and higher education.
“The college students that have recently graduated have rallied hard for mental health issues to be de-stigmatized and that mental health is as important as physical health,” McPherson said. “This is trickling down to K-12 populations who feel like seeking help is not bad, and when distress is present, it is okay not to be okay.”
To support youth suicide prevention, the State of Arizona formed a work group for adolescents and young adults under 25 to focus on the unique challenges they face in person and online. The group has expanded to include adults and seniors.
“It is so important to normalize the conversation and include all voices at the table. The more we can use a public health model, the better for an ‘all hands on deck’ approach,” McPherson explained. “It takes everyone in a community to tackle this: business and faith leaders, schools, parents, law enforcement and business/government leaders to fund programming and make change happen.”
With the rise of social media and cyberbullying, parents and caregivers should strive to be aware of what teens may be seeing and posting online.
“I speak about digital footprints and how it is so important that if you are using the Internet or social media, your footprint needs to remain shiny and responsible,” McPherson said. “So many kids have no idea that their digital footprint is being looked at, and universities and others offering them future opportunities like jobs or the military are watching their social media handles, deciding whether they should be invited to apply.”
McPherson also stresses the impact of devices, social media, and video games on the developing brain, recommending kids and adults leave phones outside the bedroom at night.
“Kids need 8-12 hours of sleep, and some only get 4-6 hours. My standard tagline is nothing good happens after 8 p.m. with an underdeveloped brain on a device,” she said.
In addition to mental health advocacy, McPherson serves as the director of professional development for Bark, an AI app for parents and school faculty.
Bark monitors texts, emails, and 30+ apps and social media platforms for cyberbullying, adult content, predators, profanity, suicidal ideation, threats and more.
Parents receive text or email alerts when potential problems pop up online, and there are options for app and website blocking, location-sharing alerts, check-ins and screen time management.
“The Bark app and phone are doing amazingly well. We are also getting ready to launch a watch, which should be super awesome,” McPherson said. “We continue to alert families to safety and wellness issues at a steady pace and bolster awareness of what children are doing online while offering practical tips to build trust with children. It is a team approach to digital wellness at Bark.”
McPherson suggests the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for anyone nationwide needing help. There are call, text, and chat options for teens and adults struggling with mental health or experiencing suicidal ideation. She says a trusted adult will have a long-lasting impact, helping students navigate their feelings while seeking professional support.
“Every week, I receive a text or email from a mom or dad who has attended one of my workshops, a panel, or documentary screening who said learning this information has helped save their student from distress and sometimes from taking their own lives,” McPherson shared. “Those powerful stories inspire me to keep talking and raising awareness.”