Examining a Suicide Prevention Curriculum Using a Social Justice Framework

Book excerpt: In the United States, suicide is the second-leading cause of death for youth ages 15-24 and in California, one in five students contemplate suicide (Westefeld, 2020; Yarbrough, 2019). This paper critically analyzes the suicide prevention curriculum Erika's Lighthouse, using a social justice framework outlined by Hochhauser et al. (2020). Erika's Lighthouse (ELH) is the universally implemented suicide prevention curriculum across Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), the second largest district in the country. The need to develop comprehensive suicide prevention programs and curriculums in schools is evident. More specifically, suicidology is beginning to frame suicide as an issue of social justice, opposed to an individual problem. As research grows on the link between suicide prevention and social justice issues, results of this paper indicate Erika's Lighthouse does not sufficiently incorporate ideas of social justice into the curriculum. Recommendations for implementation of a social justice framework are discussed. Considering the expansive geographic area and diverse communities LAUSD covers, ELH should address unique issues faced by district students and families. The implications for social work in preventing suicide from a social justice approach is briefly examined, as we work in various institutions and can take multiple roles in preventing suicide.