January 3, 2023

Hello Freshman Families, 

I hope this email finds you and your family doing well and refreshed after the winter break. This coming week, I will be in your children’s Health classes to teach about mental health: specifically, signs of depression and suicidal ideation. Educating students about what depression looks like in teens, and what they can do if they or a friend need help, is a vital part of the Columbus Academy curriculum.

As a part of the lesson, I will be administering a depression screening. Results will be kept confidential, and Dr. Suzanne Ritter and I plan on following up with students based on the results. Parents will also be notified if anything of concern is noted on their child’s survey.

We utilize the Mindwise Innovations evidence-based Signs Of Suicide program for the lessons and screening material. If you are interested in viewing the videos or screening you can log onto the website HERE. The username is Ca-par and the password is vikings.

My goal is to support our students in their mental health by helping them identify warning signs, triggers and coping skills for depression so that they are empowered to manage their complex emotional feelings and overall mental health. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to me.

Thank you,

Taylor Dillon MSW, LISW