This document provides information and guidance for recognizing and responding to students who may be at risk of suicide. It outlines key warning signs and risk factors, as well as steps staff should take to ensure the student's safety and notify parents and mental health professionals. These steps include supervising the student, conducting a risk assessment if trained to do so, informing administrators, and documenting all actions. The document emphasizes that asking a suicidal student if they are thinking of suicide does not increase risk and stresses the importance of not keeping a student's suicidal thoughts confidential.

1. You Can Save a Life: Youth Suicide Prevention Suicide Prevention Workgroup The mission of Polk County Public Schools is to ensure rigorous, relevant learning experiences that result in high achievement for our students.

2. Goals for Today Recognizing a student at risk for suicide Learning what actions to take if a student is potentially suicidal Important legal issues Resources

3. Suicide is… Intentional self-harm resulting in death Under-reported Preventable You are liable if you do not intervene!

4. Common Characteristics of an Individual Who is Considering Suicide Person is often ambivalent Often the individual has “tunnel vision” about solving their problem Suicidal solution has an irrational component Suicide is a form of communication Kalafat, J. & Underwood, M. Making Educators Partners in Suicide Prevention. Lifelines: A School-Based Youth Suicide Prevention Initiative. Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide. http://spts.pldm.com/

5. Protective Factors Regarding Suicide Effective clinical care for mental, physical, and substance use disorders Easy access to a variety of clinical interventions and support for help-seeking Restricted access to highly lethal means of suicide Strong connections to family and community support Support through ongoing medical and mental health care relationships Skills in problem solving, conflict resolution and nonviolent handling of disputes Cultural and religious beliefs that discourage suicide and support self-preservation. Suicide Prevention Resource Center. Risk and Protective Factors for Suicide. http://www.sprc.org/library/srisk.pdf

6. Youth-Specific Protective Factors Contact with a caring adult Sense of connection or participation in school Positive self-esteem and coping skills Access to and care for mental/physical/substance disorders Kalafat, J. & Underwood, M. Making Educators Partners in Suicide Prevention. Lifelines: A School-Based Youth Suicide Prevention Initiative. Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide. http://spts.pldm.com/

7. Facts and Figures In 2006, suicide ranked as the 3rd leading cause of death for young people (ages 15-24) In 2006, 216 children ages 10-14 died by suicide

8. Facts and Figures Each day 91 Americans die from suicide Each day there are about 12 youth suicides Every 1 hrs. and 59 min. someone under the age of 25 completes suicide

9. Important Points Not all attempters admit their intent – thus any self-harming behaviors should be considered serious and in need of further evaluation Most adolescent suicide attempts are precipitated by interpersonal conflicts The typical profile of a nonfatal suicide attempter is a female who ingests pills; the profile of a typical suicide completer is a male who dies from a gunshot wound American Association of Suicidology

10. Does Gender Matter? Gender has a stronger influence than does race and ethnicity Males, ages 15 - 19 are 5 times more likely than females to complete suicide Three times as many females as males attempt suicide

12. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS There isn’t a definitive method to determine if a student is suicidal. However, there are risk factors and warning signs to be aware of. Generally, more than one sign or symptom is present.

13. Risk Factors Presence of a psychiatric disorder (e.g. depression, mood disorder, anxiety disorders, etc.) Previous suicidal behavior Expression of thoughts of suicide or death Poor problem solving and coping skills Exposure to another’s suicidal behavior Recent severe stressor Family instability, significant conflict Social isolation

14. Warning Signs Difficulty in school Difficulty concentrating Withdrawal from friends and family Complaining of being a bad person Personality change and serious mood changes Rage, anger, anxiety, reckless behavior Increased alcohol and drug use Perception of being trapped or having no purpose in life; psychological pain Eating and/or sleeping difficulties

15. Don’t: Ignore it Agree to keep it a secret Give advice React emotionally Give false hopes or quick answers to problems Handle it alone Put yourself in danger

16. Do: Become familiar with signs/symptoms Listen—be calm and understanding Offer support in a caring way At all times, provide appropriate supervision Get help from guidance/student services Follow up

17. Understanding Our Students Familiarity with cultural beliefs can positively impact our relationships with students and their families. Use information provided as a general framework – every family is unique. It is important not to “generalize” regarding family values. 18

18. Responding to a Youth At-Risk for Suicide Don’t be afraid to ask Teachers are not responsible for doing a suicide risk assessment - student services personnel/crisis team members in the schools have been trained and are available to help

19. Debunking Myths About Youth Suicide Asking if a student is thinking about suicide does NOT increase the risk It is a myth that those who have attempted suicide always receive treatment Young people do not always leave suicide notes Parents are not always aware of their child’s suicidal behavior Not true that individuals who talk about suicide are only trying to get attention and are NOT seriously thinking about it

20. What Teachers/Staff Might Say “I’m here for you.” “Let’s talk and figure out what we can do.” “If I can’t help you, we can find someone who can.”

21. General Staff Procedures When a student threatens suicide: Provide supervision Never leave the student alone Do not allow student to go home alone Don’t send a student home until a risk assessment can be completed Get help from student services/administration Make sure parents are notified Continue to monitor student’s progress

22. Who Talks to the Parents of a Suicidal Child? Administrator School Psychologist School Social Worker Guidance Counselor School Resource Officer Crisis Team Member * Parents MUST be notified by the administrator or designee. This is NOT the teacher’s responsibility!

23. Teachers REPORT TO GUIDANCE ASAP Know signs/ symptoms Watch students for changes in behavior

24. Teacher Follow-up Continue to monitor student’s progress Report any further signs to guidance and administration Document! Document! Document! Offer continued support Encourage student involvement in class and outside activities Reinforce use of positive coping skills Continue to listen

25. Support Staff Support personnel such as bus drivers, custodians, paraprofessionals, and office staff may be the first to identify a student in crisis. They should immediately report concerns to a school administrator.

26. Administrators Parents must be notified! Coordinate with guidance to ensure this is done. Make sure student is supervised Contact SRO right away if student is out of control or in imminent danger

27. Administrator Follow-up Find out if parents have sought outside support: Mental health professional, doctor, clergy Check with teacher/guidance regarding student’s progress Ensure confidentiality/legal issues are addressed

28. Other Administrator Responsibilities Train instructional/non-instructional staff to: Know signs/symptoms Report to guidance/student services immediately Show they care/be positive

29. Guidance You are the primary contact person Call for additional help when needed School psychologist School social worker Pam Stein (534-0958) or Linda Troupe (534-0928) Document steps taken Have a witness when calling parent Complete suicide risk assessment, if trained Attend Crisis Intervention Training

30. Guidance Follow-up Check with teacher on student’s progress Check with student upon return to school Follow-up on mental health issues Follow “Recommendations for Dealing with Potential Student Suicide” available in Outlook, Student Services, Crisis Resources

31. Baker Act Baker Act is used when the student is in imminent danger of harm to self or others and has a mental health illness If student does not seem to be at risk for imminent danger, a risk assessment should first be conducted School Resource Officer/Deputy (SRO/SRD)/Licensed Mental Health professional can initiate Baker Act Procedures When a student is not immediately at risk of suicide, counselors may assist parents with coordinating mental health services

32. Where to Get Help? 911 or emergency room if imminent threat Local mental health services Winter Haven Hospital (1-800-723-3248 / 294-7062) Peace River Center (1-800-627-5906) Licensed mental health provider Family doctor/pediatrician National Hotlines 1-800-273-TALK Faith community Employee Assistance Program

33. Legal Issues Civil liability “means that one can be sued for acting wrongly toward another or for failing to act when there was a recognized duty to do so.”

34. Civil Liability “Negligence,” or failure to respond, is the most common tort (legal error) committed by school personnel.

35. Confidentiality Confidentiality does not apply when student makes threat to harm self or others. Never keep a student’s suicidal or homicidal intentions confidential, even if the student requests you to. Disclose the least amount of information necessary and relevant to a referral. Assure privacy when discussing confidential information with other professionals.

36. Preventive Factors at School Academic success Perceived connectedness to the school Good relationships with peers Problem solving/conflict resolution abilities

37. Suicide Resources PCSB’s Crisis Training for Student Services Personnel Student Services Personnel already trained in Crisis Intervention Contact: Student Services Department Pam Stein at 534-0958 or Linda Troupe at 534-0928

38. Polk CountyResources in Outlook Public Folders: Go to Student Services tab Go to Crisis Intervention tab Teacher brochure District procedures guide Parent/teacher information Reporting form for guidance/administrators

39. Resources and Links Use curriculum & materials approved by Crisis Team Annotated bibliography of resources for school-based suicide prevention available at: School Based Youth Suicide Prevention Guide at http://theguide.fmhi.usf.edu/ Suicide Prevention Resource Center at www.sprc.org No specific endorsement is implied with the inclusion of any given program and absence of a given program does not presume negative judgment of its value.

40. Resources and Links continued: The selected list of resources is given to provided additional information and help in suicide prevention. It is not all-inclusive. American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry http://www.aacap.org American Association of Suicidology http://www.suicidology.org American Foundation for Suicide Prevention http://www.afsp.org Suicide Prevention Resource Center http://www.sprc.org National Institute on Mental Health http://www.nimh.nih.gov National Alliance on Mental Illness http://www.nami.org Statewide Office of Suicide Prevention http://www.helppromotehope.com g

41. More Resources Peace River Mobile Crisis Response Team(863) 519-3744 Access Line (Winter Haven Hospital) 1-800-723-3248 or 293-1121 (Access Line)

42. Suicide Prevention Work Group Pam Stein, Psychological Services Linda Troupe, Student Services Ann Marshall, Support Services Chris Laney, Legal Services Madonna Wise, Guidance Services Poinsetta Williams, School Counselor Adam Summeralls, School Counselor Peggy Smith, School Social Worker Audrey Kelley, Mark Wilcox Center Bill Sone, School Resource Deputy Kirk Fasshauer, Peace River Center, Crisis Response Team Marie Dudek, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Meena Mohan, Winter Haven Behavioral Health Mary McGregor, School Psychologist