The American School Band Directors Association is recognizing the silent epidemic of youth suicide. As band directors, we provide a link to students that is unique among educators. Not only do we work with both girls and boys, but often we instruct children for several years. In many school systems, the band director will have the same students for 3-4 years and in many smaller districts, the same person may be the teacher for beginning band through high school. This puts us in contact with students more than any other teacher or coach in our schools.

According to national surveys, young people usually indicate their first choice in seeking help is their teachers. ASBDA is now providing our members and (other educators via this weblink) with tools and information to combat the 3rd leading cause of death for teens in the United States: suicide. While this is not a comfortable and popular topic to discuss, as teachers in school systems across the country, it is a reality that all must deal with whether it’s the beginning of your career or the year of retirement.

Our initiative with the Jason Foundation, Inc. is not intended to make any of us qualified counselors! We simply want to provide information for teachers, parents, and students on this topic. By linking to JFI, band directors can obtain information that they may pass on to their administration and parents (this information can be linked to your school or band website). We also are providing JFI’s online staff development. By following the link on our site to JFI, you can click on the Staff Development icon and enter username: jasonfoundation and password jfi and you can complete this seminar fulfilling requirements in several states.

We hope that by providing this opportunity for our membership that band directors will be made more aware of the problem of youth suicide and are able to use this information in their dealings with students. If one young person’s life is saved, this partnership between ASBDA and JFI will have worked.

Jeffrey T. Phillips, Ed.S.
President, ASBDA