Suicide Prevention Policy (Grades K-6)

A. Messaging about Suicide Prevention

Talking about suicide works to prevent the number of attempts. The district will check with experts to make sure they use the best information. 

B. Training

Teachers and other adults will learn about suicide awareness and prevention.

Training:

• What to look for;
• How to talk with kids about suicide; 
• Who to call when someone is thinking about suicide;
• Information about the feelings of kids at school.
• The plan to help kids, staff, and others deal with their feelings when a suicide or suicide attempt occurs;
• How to look for patterns in data from surveys and other places.

C. The people who do the work will be experts

People who work for the district will only do the jobs they are allowed to do. People who work for the district should not try to detect or treat mental illness unless they have learned how. There will be some people specially trained to help kids that are thinking about suicide.

D. Training for experts

Even the experts will have lessons on how to better help kids who are thinking of suicide. The district will do its best to help kids who are at higher risk of suicide. Kids who might be at higher risk are kids who know someone who died of suicide; kids with disabilities; kids with mental illness; kids who use drugs or alcohol; kids who are homelessness or who are in foster care; and kids who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning youth.

E. Parents, Guardians, and Caregivers Participation and Education

The district will give families information on the different reasons why kids might think of suicide. The district will also give families ideas on ways to help kids. The signs of suicide will also be shared with families. The district will make sure families know how concerning the problem of suicide is. The district will also tell families about what the district is doing to help. The district will remind families to talk to people at the school if they think they know a student who might be thinking of suicide. The district will also tell them who else might be able to help.

F. Student Participation and Education

• The schools will use Social Emotional Learning curriculum/lessons to teach kids about their feelings and how to ask for help when they need it.
• The schools will use Positive Behavior Intervention Systems (PBIS) to create positive and welcoming schools and provide supports to all students (including activities and other ways to make kids feel like a part of the school and know that teachers and others at school care for them and want them to do well.
• The school will teach kids how to deal with upsetting situations. This will also include lessons on how to stay calm and manage big or overwhelming feelings even when things go wrong. Finally, kids will be taught the warning signs of what to look for when others are considering suicide.
• The schools will use a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) to find out give more support to those students that need it.
• The schools encourage kids to tell teachers and other adults when they are thinking of suicide or when they think another student might be thinking of suicide.
• The school will help kids when they tell someone they are thinking of suicide or trying to die by suicide.

A wellness provider or administrator will be called if any adult thinks a kid might be thinking of suicide. They will help.

A. Parents, Guardians, and Caregivers

Information for families will be shared so they know what to do and where to go for help.

B. Students

Kids should tell teachers and other adults when they are thinking of suicide or when they think another student might be thinking of suicide

C. Parent Notification and Involvement

The school will check with families to make sure any student who was thinking of suicide is continuing to get help.

If families do not get help, then the school will call to see if they can do anything to help. If the families still do not get help for the kid who is at risk for suicide, the Child Protective Services will be called. 

Action Plan for In-School Suicide Attempts

If a suicide is tried at school here are things the adults will do:

• Stay with the student;
• Remain calm;
• Move all other students out of the area;
• Contact the principal or wellness provider;
• Call 911 and give them as much information as they you know;
• Do what you can to Help the student;
• Call the family;
• Listen and talk with the student;
• Let them know there is help;
• Be ok if the student doesn’t want to talk;
• Be patient with the student;
• Let the student know you will not tell everyone. Just the people who can help will be told;
• If appropriate, let the student go home with the parents or another person specially trained.

D. What will happen when a Suicide Attempt is made away from school

If a suicide is tried away from school, here are things the adults will do:

• Call the family;
• Talk to the family about how the school can help;
• Get permission from the family to share information with the people at school who can help;
• Pick an adult to be the one who talks to the adults outside of school who are helping; Work with the family to make a plan to help the student with their problems;
• Work with family to bring the student back to school when it is appropriate.

E. Supporting Kids after a Mental Health Crisis

After the crisis has happened adults will:

• Treat suicide seriously and stay calm;
• Listen to the student;
• Not argue with the student;
• Offer hope and let the student know they are safe, and help is coming;
• Get the student help;
• Keep talking to people who care for the student.

F. Coming back to School After a Suicide Attempt

When a kid comes back after they say they are going to try suicide the adults will:

• Get permission from family to share information with the people at school who can help;
• Ask the student and family if there is anything the school can do to make coming back to school easier;
• Let the teachers know if the student will miss any days;
• Let the student make up any schoolwork;
• Keep talking to the student to make sure they are feeling better;
• Work with the family and student to keep getting help.

G. Responding After a Suicide Death

If a student or adult dies by suicide, the adults at the school will:

• Make sure it is true and not a rumor before responding;
• Call the family;
• Have a meeting of the adults chosen to respond;
• Talk to all the people who work at the school;
• Talk to the kids who knew the student or adult.
• Share things that will help students feel better.
• Make sure others get help if they are thinking of doing the same thing.