1. SCCOE Suicide Prevention Training

2. If you’d like to look through the
Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Toolkit for Schools, access it here:
pausd.org/ComprehensiveSuicidePreventionToolkitforSchools

3. Before we begin…
Document is drawn on national best practice recommendations, but some resources may be specific to Palo Alto – PLEASE adapt to best fit your community!
Toolkit is not static – it’s a living, ever-improving project. We want your feedback! Send to Linda Lenoir at

4. Why We’re Here
“Nothing is more important than our students’ safety, and preparation is one of the first and more important steps a school can take in creating a more positive school climate.”
“It is imperative that we collaborate to adopt district policies and administrative regulations to address suicide prevention in our school districts.”
Tom Torlakson
CA State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Letter to superintendents (7/14/2014) cited Toolkit as a resource to complement and support implementation of these policies

5. Youth Suicide in California
Nationwide, 3rd leading cause of death for youth 10-24…but the MOST PREVENTABLE
2011 survey:
1 in 13 HS students reported attempting suicide one or more times in past year
>1 in 7 reported serious thoughts of suicide
More data by county available at :

6. Toolkit Goals Improve quality of care of student mental health needs
Initial Detection
Referral
Follow-up
Ensure that schools are able to handle crisis situations in a coordinated, consistent, and documented fashion

7. Overview of Toolkit Promotion of Mental Health & Well-Being
Intervention in a Suicidal Crisis
Postvention Response to Suicide of a School Community Member
Appendices:
Policy and Education Standards
Handouts for Students and Parents
Kara Grief Support

8. Section I: Promotion
Training & education recommendations for school staff, students, parents/community
School-wide SP program: Sources of Strength
MH Awareness & Gatekeeper Training: QPR, ASIST, Break Free from Depression, More than Sad
Strategies for creating a safe and caring school climate
Ways to identify & monitor at-risk students to provide continuing support/avert a crisis
Establishing a Crisis Response Team

9. Crisis Response Team (CRT)
Suicide prevention requires collaboration
Set roles and responsibilities allow for smoother application of protocols in crisis
Team members may vary by site – personalize to match available staff
Although CRT most intimately involved, ALL school staff should know when/how/to whom to refer at-risk students & basic summary of intervention procedure

11. Fillable CRT Contact Sheet from Toolkit for Schools

12. Section II: Intervention in a Crisis
Step-by-step guide including:
Initial Detection of Risk
Risk Assessment
Intervention Protocol (based on risk level)
Follow-Up & Re-Entry
Forms for evaluation & documentation found in Section II Attachments

17. Safety Plan Development

20. Forms to Facilitate Communication & Student Care

23. SCCOE Suicide Prevention Training
Attachments 2.14, 2.15, and 2.16 include guidelines and recommendations for facilitating student re-entry to school after a crisis, including common issues/options for addressing them

25. Section III: Postvention
Detailed, day-by-day guide for how to best respond to a school death, including:
Sample scripts and letters for notification
Resources for talking about suicide with staff and students
Recommended guidelines for memorialization
How to minimize risk of suicide contagion by working with the media
Steps to take in the long-term aftermath
Enhancing identification and support of vulnerable students
Preparing for anniversaries and special events
Supporting the family of the deceased, as well as the school’s staff members and Crisis Response Team

27. Not Just Suicide: Postvention Planning Helps with ALL Sudden Traumatic Events
“In the span of thirty months, our school experienced the deaths of four students and four staff members. Although the grant related prevention activities were obviously focused on suicide, the postvention principles applied to any major traumatic death/accident. Our school would not have survived without having protocols in place…. Our suicide prevention protocols saved us from floundering and saved lives.” “Notes from the Field,” Maine Youth Suicide Prevention

28. Next Steps to Bring Comprehensive Suicide Prevention to Your School
SCCOE Suicide Prevention Training
Next Steps to Bring Comprehensive Suicide Prevention to Your School
Adopting a school district suicide prevention policy is crucial for ensuring key stakeholder support
In SCC, 26 out of 32 districts currently have a suicide prevention BP/AR
Fill in CRT Contact Table for your school
Arrange a meeting with key players (admin, counselors, psychs, etc.) to review Toolkit content in-depth, potential for adoption
Train counselors & psychologists in Intervention protocol/forms
Alter forms (especially Section II Attachments) to fit your school
Familiarize school staff, teachers with specifics of referral protocol for at-risk students & a general understanding of what happens once a student is referred
*Can be done in an announcement/ or meeting, make a poster/flyer for staff room as a reminder, etc.

29. Suicide Prevention in Schools: Very Possible & Very Important
Toolkit draws from many state and national suicide prevention best practice guidelines
Vetted by clinicians, school staff, admins for feasibility & refined with recommendations
Feel free to adapt forms & resources to your school – if you need a copy to alter, !
Sometimes, persistence & patience is needed to make change happen, but your schools don’t have to start from scratch – they have the Toolkit!