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

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

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

Youth Suicide in California Nationwide, 3 rd 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 :

Toolkit Goals 1.Improve quality of care of student mental health needs Initial Detection Referral Follow-up 2.Ensure that schools are able to handle crisis situations in a coordinated, consistent, and documented fashion

Overview of Toolkit 1.Promotion of Mental Health & Well-Being 2.Intervention in a Suicidal Crisis 3.Postvention Response to Suicide of a School Community Member 4.Appendices: A.Policy and Education Standards B.Handouts for Students and Parents C.Kara Grief Support

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

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

Fillable CRT Contact Sheet from Toolkit for Schools

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

Safety Plan Development

Forms to Facilitate Communication & Student Care

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

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

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

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!