American teacher's initiative helps prevent suicide risk in students

In kindergarten classrooms across the United States, students can choose to greet their friends or teachers by pointing to symbols posted on the wall near the classroom door that represent a handshake, hug, high-five, or wave. This method shows respect for children’s feelings, promotes bonding among members of the class, is enthusiastically responded to by the community, and is increasingly spreading.

The board, created by Erin Castillo, helps students easily share their feelings. Photo: Insider

Students write their name on the back of a sticky note and stick it on whichever row best describes their feelings, without worrying about their friends seeing it.

As a special education teacher, Castillo has seen many students attempt suicide over the past five years. She designed the board to give students an opportunity to share their feelings anonymously and without using words. She also wanted them to know that they were not the only ones experiencing negative emotions, as many others had posted the same post-it note.

“Children need to understand they are not alone and that they have support,” Castillo says.

Castillo's initiative is being replicated. Photo: Instagram

Awareness/Prevention reposted her initiative, which attracted the attention of hundreds of thousands of people on Facebook.

Other teachers have started using the board in their classrooms and posting photos on Instagram, appreciating its significance amid growing numbers of students struggling with mental health issues.

According to a study in the journalJournal of Abnormal Psychology, about 35% of freshmen have a history of at least one mental disorder. Researchers say the pressure to be perfect is a widespread “epidemic” among young people, taking a serious toll on their mental health.

Castillo was moved to see her idea go viral: "I burst into tears. When my husband asked why, I replied:Because children everywhere are being saved".