Page 12 - south whidbey family hand book 2018 -2019 e-book

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Prevention

Suicide Prevention A. Student Health Education Program training will help staff identify and
(Policy 2145) The district’s comprehensive health respond to students at risk of suicide.
The South Whidbey School District education program will promote the The training shall periodically be
Board of Directors recognizes that healthy mental, emotional, and social offered under the direction of a district
suicidal behaviors are complex issues, development of students including, counselor/psychologist and/or in
a major cause of death among youth, but not limited to, the development of cooperation with one or more
and are to be taken seriously. While problem-solving skills, coping skills community mental health or public
school staff may recognize potentially and self-esteem. Developmentally health agencies and may include
suicidal youth and the district may make appropriate suicide prevention information on:
an initial risk assessment, the district instruction will be incorporated into Identifying risk factors such as
cannot provide in-depth mental health the health education curriculum and previous suicide attempts, history of
counseling. Instead, the Board directs designed to help students: depression or mental illness,
school staff to refer students who Identify and analyze signs of substance use problems, bullying and
exhibit suicidal behaviors to an depression and self-destructive harassment, family history of suicide or
appropriate service for further behaviors and understand how violence, feelings of isolation,
assessment and counseling. feelings of depression, loss, isolation, interpersonal conflicts, a recent severe
The Board also recognizes the need for inadequacy and anxiety can lead to stressor or loss, family instability and
youth suicide prevention procedures thoughts of suicide; other factors;
and directs the superintendent to
establish appropriate programs for Identify alternatives to suicide and Warning signs that may indicate
teachers, staff, and students that: develop coping and resiliency skills; suicidal intentions, including changes
a) identify risk factors for youth suicide; Learn to listen, share feelings and get in students’ appearance, personality or
b) intervene with such youth; c) provide help when communicating with behavior;
referral services; d) follow-up on a friends who show signs of suicidal School and community resources/
completed suicide; and e) offer training intent; and services; and
about how to provide proper assistance.
School staff who have knowledge of a Identify trusted adults, school District procedures for intervening
suicide threat must take the proper resources, and/or community crisis when a student attempts, threatens,
steps to support the student and to intervention resources where youth discloses the desire to commit suicide
report this information to the building can get help and recognize that there or displays other indicators.
principal or designee who will, in turn, is no stigma associated with seeking D. Principal/Designee Prevention
notify the appropriate school officials, mental health, substance abuse and/ Planning
the student’s family, and appropriate or suicide prevention services. School administrative teams will
resource services as defined in the designate specific individuals to be
procedures of this policy and B. Student Responsibility promptly contacted regarding a suicide
appropriate state and federal law. The district will encourage students threat. This may include the school
The superintendent will develop and to notify a teacher, principal, counselor, psychologist, nurse,
implement procedures and a staff train- counselor or other adult when they superintendent, and, as necessary,
ing schedule to achieve the Board’s are experiencing depression or local law enforcement or mental health
goals and objectives. thoughts of suicide or when they agencies. The student and parent/
suspect or have knowledge of guardian will be contacted.
Procedure for Policy 2145 another student’s despair or suicidal
I. Prevention intentions. The principal or counselor will develop
Suicide prevention strategies may Where appropriate, the district will a re-entry plan, including a student/
include, but are not to be limited to, use students to help educate their staff support plan for use after a
efforts to promote a positive school peers to identify the warning signs of suicide attempt.
climate that enhances students’ feelings suicidal behavior and to get a suicidal
of connectedness with the school and student adult help. II. Intervention
each other, and is characterized by C. Staff Training Whenever a staff member suspects or
caring staff and harmonious The district’s suicide prevention has knowledge of a student’s
inter-relationships among students.

S O U T H W H I D B E Y S C H O O L D I S T R I C T F A M I L Y H A N D B O O K