Schools can help prevent suicide by providing teachers and students with the mechanisms necessary to identify and respond to students who are at risk of suicide as well as other risk and self-destructive behaviors. The tools contained within this section contain important information that schools can use to reduce the risk of suicide among their students.
School-based prevention programs
These programs can be especially effective when implemented in the context of a comprehensive risk prevention or health promotion program. Such programs can reduce levels of self-harm and other risk behaviors as well as improve levels of wellness and the academic performance of the school.
A report detailing specific guidelines for school-based suicide prevention programs can be found through this link.
A issue brief on suicide prevention in the schools from CSMHA News You Can Use, Apr., 2006 describes the role of schools in preventing suicide and provides an overview of different types of programs designed to be implemented in schools can be found through this link.
Responding to a suicide crisis
Creating a comprehensive school crisis plan is critical in responding to a suicide crisis. A crisis plan helps a school respond to any emergency, from a natural disaster to violence in the school community. Such a plan should include procedures for addressing students who try to harm themselves as well as those who are only contemplating it. It should also provide some guidance for the role of individual teachers in identifying and responding to potential suicidal or violent behavior in students, and how to respond when actual violence takes place.
Information on resonding to a suicide crisis in an elementary school setting can be found through this link to a column, written by a school psychologist for Education World. It provides guidance for teachers when an elementary school student threatens suicide.
Help after a suicide
Be prepared to engage in postvention. "Postvention" is a term used to describe prevention measures implemented after a crisis or traumatic event to reduce the risk to those who have witnessed or been affected by the tragedy. The suicide, or violent or unexpected death, of a student, teacher, or even a celebrity can result in an increased risk of suicide for other vulnerable young people. Although rare, a suicide in the community (or even a remote suicide that receives substantial press coverage) can contribute to an increased risk of suicide. Appropriately responding to a tragedy that may put students at risk is an essential part of any crisis or suicide prevention plan.
The tools provided in this section are targeted towards High Schools and Colleges.
