NSU University School Faculty, Staff and Employee Handbook

105 Step 5 - Follow-up Throughout any intervention, confidentiality must be observed at all times. SUICIDE INTERVENTION PROCESS Any time a faculty or staff member encounters a situation in which a student appears to be contemplating suicide; the following process should be followed. Step One - Stabilize the Situation A. Remain with the student: Under no circumstances is a suicidal student to be left alone. B. Converse with the student immediately to determine if she/he has any dangerous instrumentalities (weapon, substance, or other material capable of inflicting a mortal wound) on or nearby his/her person. C. If the student will allow, immediately remove any dangerous items from the student and the student's environment. D. If the student will agree, accompany him/her to a prearranged, non-threatening place away from other students and other people, but where there is another adult and a telephone close by. If the director can be notified without leaving the student, do so as quickly as possible. If the student will not agree, stay calm and remain with him/her until someone comes. E. Make sure your director or his/her designee has been notified and wait for administrative arrival. Administration will conduct further steps. Either the director (if available) or the staff member should proceed to Step Two. Step Two - Assess the Risk A. Stay relaxed and talk calmly to the student to assess the risk of the student harming himself/herself. Listen intently to what the student is saying and avoid giving advice. Keep questions nonjudgmental. B. If the student will not relinquish a dangerous instrumentality, use EXTREME RISK PROCEDURE (Step Three A). C. If the student is in imminent danger of harming himself/herself, use SEVERE RISK PROCEDURE (Step Three B). D. If the student is not in imminent danger of harming himself/herself, use MODERATE RISK PROCEDURE (Step Three C).