Procedure No. 2145P

 

Suicide Awareness and Prevention                    

Staff members shall be made aware of their responsibilities in the event of a potential or imminent suicide incident.  Staff is expected to follow the procedures as specified.  Three steps are vital in a suicide prevention program:

1.  ensuring the short-term physical safety of the student;
2. communicating with appropriate school personnel, parents/guardians, and local support personnel and establishing an interim plan of action; and
3. referring to appropriate professional or agency and implementing a long-term plan of action.

The district’s annual staff suicide prevention training will help staff identify and respond to students at risk of suicide.

The district encourages students to notify a teacher, principal, counselor, or other adult when they are experiencing depression or thoughts of suicide or when they suspect or have knowledge of another student’s despair or suicidal intentions.  The district’s comprehensive health education program will promote the healthy mental, emotional, and social development of students including, but not limited to, the development of problem-solving skills, coping skills and self-esteem.

The district will involve school counselors, the crisis telephone hotline, physician/health care providers, mental health specialists, coaches and youth leaders, parents and clergy as resources for prevention and intervention.  The district will also develop partnerships with community organizations and agencies.

The following procedures are intended to support staff in the cases of potential, actual attempt, or actual suicide events.

 

Potential Suicide--No Physical Evidence

Any staff member who receives or discovers information about a potential suicide (notes, threats, conversations, etc.) will immediately notify the principal or designee.

Suicidal Ideation (Verbal threat or communication of possible suicidal intent--Having thoughts of killing oneself).

1. Any suggestion, demonstration, or communication of an intention to commit suicide must be taken seriously.
2. Such behavior shall be reported to the principal, counselor, and/or a designee. The situation will be evaluated through contacts with the student, parents, and other staff.
3. The principal or designee shall be apprised of the situation and of the plan for monitoring the student's behavior.
4. Confidentiality is not applicable when the student threatens himself (or others).  In such circumstances, no matter what guarantees of privacy have been given the student, the information must be discussed with the appropriate staff.  The principal, counselor, and/or a designee will notify the parent.  Referral to an outside agency or private professional shall be made in cooperation with the parents.  If the student is deemed in need of professional intervention, and the parent refuses to cooperate, appropriate agencies shall be contacted by the school administration and/or the designee to intervene on the student's behalf.
5. By law (WAC 275-54-030), any student, age 13 or above, may request treatment regardless of parental permission.
6. The school administration is responsible to monitor the student's functioning in school until a positive adjustment is evident.

 

Physical Evidence of Attempted Suicide

Any staff member who discovers or is informed of physical evidence relating to an attempted suicide (drug overdose, self-mutilation, etc.) will take the student to the nurse's office; inform the nurse, leave the student in care of the nurse or other appropriate adult; and, immediately inform the principal or designee.

 

Actual Attempt of Suicide

The following actions shall be taken:

1. Call for emergency medical assistance if there is any question that a life-threatening situation is involved.
2. Contact the parent or guardian and advise them of the situation and what actions are being taken.
3. Notify Emergency Mental Health.
4. Assign a staff member to remain with the person at all times.
5. Notify the superintendent.
6. Accompany the student to the hospital, if such action is considered necessary.
7. Notify principal, counselor, and/or designee for consultation during the crisis.  Following the crisis, the principal, counselor, or designee will:
   1. contact the parents for follow-up
   2. contact other professionals involved in the case for educational planning and follow-up services
8. Readmit the student upon the recommendation of the mental health practitioner. Homebound instruction may be used on an interim basis.

 

Actual Suicide

In the event of an actual suicide, the school must exercise care to avoid contagion and to help deal with the grieving, guilt, and shock of students and staff.  The superintendent shall be contacted immediately.  Contacts shall also be made with members of the School Mobilization Assistance Response (SMART).  The police department also must be notified.  The superintendent's office will respond to all requests for information.

 

Initially Adopted: October 10, 1988

Adopted: February 22, 2010

Revised: January 22, 2024