Section (5000) Students
Policy Name REGULATION - Suicide Prevention
Policy Number 5141.51 REG
Date Approved 6/11/1990
Date Revised 12/13/2004
Date Revised  10/09/2018
Date Revised  
Date Revised  
Policy

Guidelines for Management of Suicidal Risk

The school cannot be expected to thoroughly evaluate and eliminate suicidal risk. Nevertheless, the Board is committed to respond in a supportive manner, both aggressively and immediately, to a student who has attempted, has threatened, or is seriously considering attempting suicide.  All school district professionals should share with Principals any observations of student behavior which may be related to the possibility of suicide.

The Principal, in turn, has a responsibility to follow guidelines in Board of Education policy and this regulation on suicide prevention. If circumstances indicate actions other than those described, Principals may consult with the designated student support teams, Planning and Placement Team (PPT) and/or other appropriate personnel and shall document the circumstances and resulting decisions.

Special Issues in Using Procedures

1.  Principal.  Principal shall mean Principal or Principal's Designee.

2.  Administration.  Administration shall mean Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, Principal, Assistant Principal, or Administrative Designee.

3.  Communication.  The building Principal shall maintain communication with the Superintendent of
Schools concerning all suicide attempts and shall call on the Central Office for advice on how to proceed as such assistance is needed. In turn the Superintendent will keep the Board informed about suicide related issues as appropriate.  All communications must be kept confidential.

4.  Documentation.   All actions taken by school personnel will be carefully documented with factual information, observable behaviors, and actions and placed in the student's health file. Following an attempt or completed suicide, a daily log of student behavior should be maintained until no longer needed.

5.  Contagion. Sometimes a suicide attempt or suicide will trigger other suicide attempts. The best preventive measure against the contagion effect involves careful identification and monitoring of students who may be in a risk category, efforts to reduce glamorization of the suicide, and carefully planned follow-up activities.

6.  Anniversary Dates.  The week, month or year anniversary of the death may trigger a delayed grief reaction or suicide attempts modeled after the first. School personnel should be sensitive to this.

7.  Support for Staff. Student support team members should be sensitive to each other's needs for support, and it can also be helpful to have an outside professional available during and following crisis periods to "debrief" the team and offer support to individual members as needed.

8.  Support for Students at School.  Most experts agree it is better to keep students at school where adult support systems are available than to send them home where no adult supervisors might be available to them. Students should only be released to their parent(s)/guardian(s) or other responsible adults should they ask to leave school early.

General Procedures during School Hours
School staff who have identified a potentially suicidal student or who have other reason to believe the student is at risk of suicide must immediately bring the student's name to the attention of the Principal or his/her designee even if the student has confided in the staff person and asked the staff person to keep their discussion confidential.  In such cases, the staff person would explain that he/she cannot maintain confidentiality under the circumstances.
Appropriate staff members gather background information prior to contacting a student identified with suicidal tendencies — unless there appears to be imminent risk of self-harm.  This background check should be done on the same day as the referral and may include:
1.  Further discussion with the person who made the referral.
2.  Contact with other staff members for data on recent student performance.
At the earliest possible moment following the collection of information, contact with the student will be made to determine the seriousness of the situation.

Imminent Risk
The student has the intent to kill himself/herself, a specific plan for how he/she will do it, and access to the method; in addition, he/she exhibits feelings of loneliness, hopelessness, helplessness, and the inability to tolerate more pain.
1.  A staff member will ensure that the student is not left alone.. In addition, he/she will explain to the student that someone will be contacting parent(s)/guardian(s) because of deep concern.
2.  A staff member will notify parent(s)/guardian(s) and request that they come to the school immediately. The following points should be covered in the meeting with the parent(s)/guardian(s):
(a) The seriousness of the situation;
(b) The need for an immediate outside professional help.  Specifically, a suicide risk evaluation at a medical or mental health facility, or other appropriate evaluation(s);
(c) The need for continued monitoring of the student at home if he/she is released following the evaluation;
(d) A request for the parent/guardian to sign a release of information form permitting communication between the school and the facility to which the student will be taken, the student's therapist and other appropriate individuals.
3.  When parents/guardians cannot be contacted, or if they refuse to come to the school, and a medical emergency exists, normal procedures will be followed for such emergencies which may include contacting 911. If parents/guardians refuse to come to school, the Principal will explain that the school may be required to file a medical neglect report with the Department of Children and Families.
4.  As a follow-up, a staff member will contact the family to discuss plans for professional assistance and support to the student, and permission for communications between school and therapist will be requested. A plan of action for in-school support services and monitoring of the student will be discussed at the next student support team meeting and changes in the instructional program, when necessary.

At-Risk Situation
The student has some intent to kill himself/herself and has thought about how he/she would do it. He/she has access to the method but does not have everything in place. Although the student may exhibit feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, and unbearable pain, he/she shows some willingness to accept help. The following action will be taken, the order to be determined by the specific situation:

1.  A staff member will ensure that the student is not left alone.. In addition, he/she will explain to the student that his or her parent(s)/guardian(s) will be contacted to arrange for professional help and to develop an appropriate support system.
2.  A staff member will notify parent(s)/guardian(s) and request that they come to the school as soon as possible, preferably the same day.
3.  When the parent(s)/guardian(s) arrive at school the following points should be covered in the meeting with the parent(s)/guardian(s):
(a.) The seriousness of the situation;
(b.) The need for an immediate suicide risk evaluation at a medical or mental health facility,  or other appropriate evaluation(s);
(c.) The need for continued monitoring of the student at home if he/she is released following the evaluation;.
(d.) Referral to appropriate professional services outside the school system; and
(e.) A request for the parent/guardian to sign a release of information form permitting communication between the school and the facility to which the student will be taken, the student's therapist and other appropriate individuals.
(f.) Request further information from parent(s)/guardian(s) concerning the student's mental health history, including therapy and previous suicidal attempts or threats.  If the student is currently being seen by a mental health professional, a staff member will ask for parent/guardian permission to speak with that professional.

4.  The Principal or Designee will ask the student to sign an agreement not to harm himself/herself.
5.  Following the meeting with the student the Principal or designee will:
(a)  Convene the student support team to plan a course of action.
(b)  Contact the student's parent(s)/guardian(s) to inform them of the seriousness of the situation and request an immediate meeting the same day.
(c)  Obtain further information from parent(s)/guardian(s) concerning the student's mental health history, including therapy and previous suicidal attempts or threats.  If the student is currently being seen by a mental health professional, a member of the student support team will ask for parent(s)/guardian(s) permission to speak with that professional.
(d)  Communicate the need for suicidal risk evaluation.
(e)  If the parent(s)/guardian(s) refuses to come to school, the Principal will explain that the school may file a medical neglect report with DCF.
(f)  As follow up, a team member will contact the family to discuss plans for professional help to the student. The team will meet to develop a plan for in school support.

General Procedures After School Hours
If a staff member has become aware of a potentially suicidal student during after school hours, he/she should contact an administrator and if unable to reach an administrator, contact the police.  Administrators should consider and decide on the following additional actions:
1.  Contact parent(s)/guardian(s)
2.  Contact student's therapist/counselor.
3.  Contact 24-hour crisis center.

Students Who Have Attempted Suicide
1.  In-school Attempt:
(a)  The staff person who becomes aware of the attempt will remain with the student and immediately send for the nurse and Principal.
(b)  The nurse and Principal will follow school medical emergency procedures to get immediate medical help for the student.
(c)  Parent(s)/guardian(s) will be contacted.
(d)  Principal will refer to the Crisis Intervention Plan and Media guidelines.
2.  Out-of-school Attempt:
(a)  The staff person who receives information concerning an attempted suicide will immediately contact the school administration who will verify the information and actions taken by the parent(s)/guardian(s).
(b)  Administration will determine if the situation warrants informing the faculty.
(c)  If the attempted suicide is causing visible distress among students, a crisis team meeting may be held to determine appropriate actions.
(d)  Administration, in conjunction with the student support team, will develop a plan to monitor and support high risk students.
(e)  As appropriate, information will be shared with the administration of siblings’ schools.
Legal Reference:   Connecticut General Statutes
10-221(e) Boards of education to prescribe rules.