NSU University School Faculty, Staff and Employee Handbook

104 Appendix M: SUICIDE PREVENTION POLICY/GUIDELINES STUDENT SUICIDE PREVENTION Policy/Guidelines NSU University School recognizes that depression and self-destruction are problems of increasing severity among children and adolescents. A student who suffers the psychological disability of depression cannot benefit fully from the educational program of the school, and a student who has attempted self-destruction poses a danger both to himself/herself and to other students. The school directs all school personnel, all employees to be alert to the student who exhibits signs of unusual depression or who threatens or attempts suicide. Any such signs, or any report of such signs from another student or staff member should be addressed. Thus, all school personnel have a responsibility to share with the director or his/her designee information or observations of student behavior which appear to be related to the possibility of suicide. This must be done 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 keep confidentiality in these circumstances. Once a student is identified as possibly at risk for suicide, or already in crisis, further assessment and intervention becomes the responsibility of school mental health and administrative professionals who are appropriately qualified and trained, and duly authorized within their job descriptions to carry out such responsibilities. 1. If any faculty member receives a passive report of suicide (letter, report, essay content, etc.) notify your director immediately, who will take action according to policy steps below. 2. If there is any direct statement or indication in the staff member’s presence, or imminent signs of potential student suicide, the following intervention procedures should be applied: Step 1 - Stabilization Step 2 - Assessment of the Risk Step 3 - Use of Appropriate Risk Procedure Step 4 - Communication with Appropriate Parties