BecomeAnAccreditedChaplainToPromoteSpiritual Care&SuicidePreventionInSchools
Asstudentmentalhealthisinthespotlight,the NationalSchoolChaplainAssociationis announcinganonlineprogramforindividuals interestedinservingelementaryschools
Schoolsoftenfocusonsuicide preventioninuppergrades,butstudies showthatelementarystudentsaren’t immune.It'sthe10thleadingcauseof deathforkidsaged5through9.
Mostsuicidesinyounger childrenarespurredby situationslikeschool disruptions,divorce, substanceabuse,or depressioninaparent, accordingtoarecent study.
Chaplainscanprovidea listeningearand emotionalsupportin situationslikethese, regardlessofstudents’ race,religion,gender identity,orsexual orientation.
Theprogramoffersthreepathsto becomingaschoolchaplain.Whileno previousexperienceisnecessary,the requirementsvarybasedoneducationor ministrybackground.
Despitecurrentculturalfactors,chaplains areakeyplayeronschoolstaffs,NSCA representativessay.Religionisdeclining, buttheneedforspiritualcareisontherise.
