Schools won't say the word — but suicide is the second leading cause of death among youth aged 15 to 24. The silence isn't protection. It's a policy choice defended by a myth. Here's what the research says, what it costs, and what needs to change before another student learns not to speak.

Every school has fire drills, fire exits, and evacuation plans. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among Canadian teenagers and most schools have no plan for it at all. This article explores why schools avoid the conversation, what that silence teaches teens, what actually works, and what parents can do when their child’s school won’t start the conversation. Includes the Teen Signal Check tool.