INTERVENTION FOR SUICIDAL IDEATION/ATTEMPT

INTERVENTION FOR SUICIDAL IDEATION/ATTEMPT

ag5350Adopted June 1, 2009Revised May 25, 2016

5350 - INTERVENTION FOR SUICIDAL IDEATION/ATTEMPT

The School Corporation has a responsibility to keep all of our students safe. Therefore, all adult employees are to share, with an administrator, any observations of students’ behavior or conversations that could indicate the potential for suicide.

Attempted Suicide: If a student has taken a drug or inflicted self-injury while at school or a school function, immediate medical care should be sought. The student’s parent should be contacted as soon as possible.

Threatened Suicide: If a student has a legitimate suicidal ideation or has attempted suicide, the following checklist is to be followed with documentation:

Documentation and Checklist:

  1. Acknowledge that student has a legitimate suicidal ideation (statement, drawing, gesture) or attempt and write a description on page 2 of this document.

  2. Determine if the student is currently seeing a mental health provider outside of school. If so, please list name of provider: ____________________________________.

  3. Determine if the student has a prior suicidal ideation/attempt. If so, please list date(s) of occurrences: __________________________________________________________.

  4. Keep student under constant visual supervision of an NAFCS employee until released to parent, guardian, or other adult family member acting for the parent. The student should not be released to ride the school bus, to drive a personal automobile, or to ride in a car with other students.

  5. Call the parent and request that he/she comes to the school to conference. Parent / Guardian ________________________ (name) was notified of the situation at _______________ (time) to come immediately to school and assume responsibility for the student.

    1. If the parent refuses to come, Department of Child Services (DCS) should be called.

    2. If the parent is the cause of the threat, DCS should be called for their recommendation.

  6. Notify parent upon arrival of the following options (check option selected):

    1. An assessment completed immediately by an NAFC Schools’ contracted Mental Health Provider (only available in select buildings).

    2. A mobile assessment by Wellstone Regional Hospital (with verbal permission from the parent, the mobile assessor can be scheduled to come to the building immediately).

    3. Parent elects to use a mental health service provider of their own choosing. In this option, the student may return to school the following school day as long as an appointment has been scheduled. (Documentation is required following the appt.) If parent does not follow through with their appointment, contact will be made with parent. If the parent continues to be uncooperative, DCS may be contacted.

  7. Under IC 20-33-2-46, a superintendent or school leader may exclude a student found mentally or physically unfit for school attendance. This is only recommended in situations of extreme concern with a dangerous student, when there is ample evidence that the student is "unfit for school attendance".

  8. IDOE states that if a school requires any evaluation pending the right to return to a school building, the evaluation would be at the expense of the school corporation. In addition, the school must continue to provide educational services during the exclusion.

  9. The Student was released to: _______________________ (name) at ______________________ (date/time).

  10. Parent conference notes:

SCHOOL CRISIS TEAM

Because it is difficult to manage a crisis on the day of a tragedy, such as a sudden death or suicide, each school should organize a Crisis Team to have preparations in place for such an event. Each principal will designate staff members for the team who will meet together at the beginning of each semester to review procedures. Suggested Crisis Team Members would include the Principal, Assistant Principal, School Counselor, School Nurse, School Secretary, and Teacher Reps.

Suggested Action Steps Checklist:

  1. Make factual verification of death, serious injury or accident.

  2. Notify Assistant to the Superintendent and Curriculum Director.

  3. Call meeting of the school’s Crisis Team.

  4. Implement Crisis Intervention Plans including the following:

    1. Notify staff and students

    2. Discuss the handling of media with Asst. to the Supt. and Director

    3. Communicate with mental health professionals and request assistance if needed

    4. Identify high-risk students and/or staff

    5. Meet with families/visitor who arrive at the school

    6. Designate an area in the school for strategic personnel