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The [Board of the School District] in recognition of the need to protect the health, safety and welfare of its students, to promote healthy development, to safeguard against the threat or attempt of suicide among school aged youth, and to address barriers to learning, hereby adopts this policy. This policy corresponds with and supports other federal, state and local efforts to provide youth with prevention education, early identification and intervention, and access to all local resources to promote health and prevent personal harm or injury.

Students will receive age appropriate lessons in their classrooms through health education on the importance of safe and healthy choices, as well as help seeking strategies for self or others. Students are taught not to make promises of confidence when they are concerned about a peer or significant other. Lessons will contain information on comprehensive health and wellness, including emotional, behavioral and social skills development. Lessons are taught by [health and physical education teachers, community service providers and Student Services staff]. Students who are in need of intervention will be referred to the Student Assistance Program (SAP) team for screening and recommendations.

All staff are responsible for safeguarding the health and safety of students. All staff are expected to exercise sound professional judgment, err on the side of caution and demonstrate extreme sensitivity throughout any crisis situation. All school personnel should be informed of the signs of youth depression/suicide.

Any staff member who is originally made aware of any threat or witnesses any attempt towards self-harm, that is written, drawn, spoken or threatened, will immediately notify the principal or their designee. Any threat in any form must be treated as real and dealt with immediately. No student should be left alone, nor confidences promised. Thus, in cases of life threatening situations a student’s confidentiality will be waived. Our district’s suicide crisis response procedures will be implemented.

Definition – A suicide threat is a verbal or non-verbal communication that the individual intends to harm him/herself with the intention to die but has not acted on the behavior.

a. The staff member who learns of the threat will locate the individual and arrange for or provide constant adult supervision.

b. The above-mentioned staff member will immediately inform the principal/designee.

c. The principal/designee will involve staff, school nurse practitioner or in their absence [Insert appropriate numbers for school and non-school hours.]

d. The appropriate staff or approved agency provider will determine risk and intervention needed by interviewing the student, and gathering appropriate supportive documentation from teachers or others who witnessed the threat.

§ contact the parent/guardian, apprise them of the situation and make recommendations.

f. If the student is known to be currently in counseling, the principal/designee will attempt to inform their treatment provider of what occurred and the actions taken.

g. If the parent refuses to cooperate, and there is any doubt regarding the child’s safety, the school employee who directly witnessed the threat will pursue a 302 involuntary mental health assessment by calling [County Emergency Services at xxx-xxx-xxxx], and ask for a delegate. The delegate will listen to concerns and advise on the course of action. If a 302 involuntary mental health assessment is granted, the first-hand witness will need to be the petitioner, with support from appropriate district staff [insert the title of the staff].

h. If the county delegate authorizes a 302 mental health assessment, then the county will authorize transportation to the assessment. If school security/resource officers should transport the student, then one district employee should drive and another should be seated next to the student. Do not drive the student in personal vehicles. Do not leave the student alone at any time. Depending on the level of the student’s distress, the 302 petitioner (the employee who learned firsthand of the threat) may need to travel in a separate vehicle.

Note: If a threat is made during an after-school program, and no school or district personnel are available, call [Insert telephone number for County Crisis Emergency Services or 1-800-SUICIDE or 1-800-273-TALK] for help. Inform the principal of the incident and actions taken.

Suicidal act (also referred to as suicide attempt) – a potentially self- injurious behavior for which there is evidence that the person probably intended to kill himself or herself; a suicidal act may result in death, injuries, or no injuries.

The first district employee on the scene must call for help from another staff member, locate the individual and follow district emergency medical procedures, such as calling 911.

b. Staff members should move all other students out of the immediate area and arrange appropriate supervision. Students should not be allowed to observe the scene.

c. Principal/designee will involve Student Services personnel to assist as needed.

d. Principal/designee will contact parent/guardian and ask them to come to the school or hospital.

e. Principal/designee will inform [Insert name of central office] Office, or call for assistance from the District’s or County’s on-call crisis response team at [24- hour number].

f. Principal/designee will document in writing all actions taken and recommendations.

g. If the student is known to be currently in counseling, the principal/designee will attempt to inform their treatment provider of what occurred and the actions taken.

h. Principal/designee will involve the Student Assistance Program team for follow-up and support.

i. Principal/designee will request written documentation from any treating facilities prior to a student’s return to school.

j. Student Services staff will promptly follow up with any students or staff who might have witnessed the attempt, and contact their parents/guardians. Student Services staff will provide supportive counseling and document all actions taken. Guidelines are available in the STAR-Center’s Postvention Standard’s Manual.

k. Media representatives should be referred to the appropriate school spokesperson [e.g., Superintendent, or Communications Coordinator]. School staff should make no statements to the media.

Suicide Act or Attempt Not on School Grounds or During a School-Sponsored Activity but Reported to a School Employee

Suicide Completion of a Student or Employee on School Grounds or During a School-Sponsored Activity

Definition - Suspected Suicide (also referred to as suicide completion) – death from injury, poisoning, or suffocation where there is initial indication evidence that a self-inflicted act may have led to the person's death. Note: The coroner’s or medical examiner’s office must first confirm that the death was a suicide before any school official may state this as the cause of death. Schools must adhere to the wishes of the family in this regard and respect their right to privacy and confidentiality.

Refer to the STAR-Center’s Postvention Standard’s Manual, for a detailed outline of suicide postvention (procedures to support schools following a sudden death)

It is recognized that grieving individuals need a variety of opportunities to personally express their emotions and reactions to this type of death. Recommendations and ideas for a memorial should be taken into consideration and discussed with the [Office of insert name of office] and the response team prior to being implemented. Memorials must be carefully and tastefully planned, considering a broad range of responses. A variety of activities may in fact occur to celebrate positive remembrances, and these expressions often vary. Refer to the STAR-Center’s Postvention Standards Manual, for additional considerations regarding memorials, graduation activities and anniversary dates.

For additional examples of school-based policies and procedures you may refer to:

 Frameworks Youth Suicide Prevention Project: Community Response to Suicide Attempts and Threats (protocols)

[i] Definitions from National Strategy for Suicide Prevention: Goals and Objectives for Action. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, 2001.