Suicide Prevention Policy for Grades TK-6 

The district knows that suicide is a tragedy that affects young people, families and communities. All adults can help stop suicide. Adults at the school who speak with kids may be a big help to students when they are having thoughts about dying.  

The district will talk with parents, experts, and read the county mental health plan to learn more about the type of help kids need.  If a K-6 student who has Medi-Cal benefits needs help, the district will work with the county mental health plan.  The district will also make sure it knows what other people in the community are doing to help kids.

Teachers and other adults at school will learn about suicide awareness and prevention. 

The district shall develop and implement preventive strategies and intervention procedures that include the following:

Prevention

A. Messaging about Suicide Prevention

Talking about suicide works to stop the number of attempts. The district will check with experts to make sure they use the best information. 

B. Training

Teachers and other adults will learn about suicide awareness and prevention.

Training:

Once a year adults will be taught how to notice if kids are thinking about suicide.

Adults at school will learn about:

 What to look for;

• How to talk with kids about suicide; 

• Who to call when someone is thinking about suicide;

• Information about the feelings of kids at school.

• The plan to help kids, staff, and others deal with their feelings when a suicide or suicide attempt happens;

• How to look for patterns in data from surveys and other places.

The district will do its best to help kids who are at higher risk of suicide. Kids who might be at higher risk are kids who know someone who died by suicide; kids with special needs; kids with mental illness; kids who use drugs or alcohol; kids who are homelessness or who are in foster care; and kids who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning youth.

 C. The people who do the work will be experts

People who work for the district will only do the jobs they are allowed to do. People who work for the district should not try to detect or treat mental illness unless they have learned how. There will be some people specially trained to help kids that are thinking about suicide.

D. Training for experts

Even the experts will have lessons on how to better help kids who are thinking of suicide. The district will do its best to help kids who are at higher risk of suicide. 

E. Parents, Guardians, and Caregivers Participation and Education

The district will give families information on the different reasons why kids might think of suicide. The district will also give families ideas on ways to help kids. The signs of suicide will also be shared with families. The district will make sure families know how big  the problem of suicide is. The district will also tell families about what the district is doing to help. The district will remind families to talk to people at the school if they think they know a student who might be thinking of suicide. The district will also tell them who else might be able to help.

F. Student Participation and Education

• The schools will use Social Emotional Learning lessons to teach kids about their feelings and how to ask for help when they need it.

• The schools will use Positive Behavior Intervention Systems (PBIS) to create positive and welcoming schools and provide supports to all students (including activities and other ways to make kids feel like a part of the school and know that teachers and others at school care for them and want them to do well.

• The school will teach kids how to deal with upsetting situations. This will also include lessons on how to stay calm and manage big feelings even when things go wrong. Finally, kids will be taught the warning signs of what to look for when others are feeling suicidal. 

• The schools will use a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) to give more support to those students that need it.

• The schools encourage kids to tell teachers and other adults when they are thinking of suicide or when they think another student might be thinking of suicide.

• The school will help kids when they tell someone they are thinking of suicide or trying to die by suicide.

Intervention, Assessment, Referral

A wellness provider or administrator will be called if any adult thinks a kid might be thinking of suicide. They will help.

A. Parents, Guardians, and Caregivers

Information for families will be shared so they know what to do and where to go for help.

B. Students

Kids should tell teachers and other adults when they are thinking of suicide or when they think another student might be thinking of suicide

C. Parent Notification and Involvement

The school will check with families to make sure any student who was thinking of suicide is continuing to get help.

If families do not get help, then the school will call to see if they can do anything to help. If the families still do not get help for the kid who is at risk for suicide, the Child Protective Services will be called. 

Action Plan for In-School Suicide Attempts

If a suicide is tried at school here are things the adults will do:

• Stay with the student;

• Remain calm;

• Move all other students out of the area;

• Contact the principal;

• Call 911 and give them as much information as they you know;

• Do what you can to Help the student;

• Call the family;

• Listen and talk with the student;

• Let them know there is help;

• Be ok if the student doesn’t want to talk;

• Be patient with the student;

• Let the student know you will not tell everyone. Just the people who can help will be told;

D. What will happen when a Suicide Attempt is made away from school

If a suicide is tried away from school, here are things the adults will do:

• Call the family;

• Talk to the family about how the school can help;

• Get permission from the family to share information with the people at school who can help;

• Pick an adult to be the one who talks to the adults outside of school who are helping; Work with the family to make a plan to help the student with their problems;

• Work with family to bring the student back to school when ready.

E. Supporting Kids after a Mental Health Crisis

After the crisis has happened adults will:

• Treat suicide seriously and stay calm;

• Listen to the student;

• Not argue with the student;

• Offer hope and let the student know they are safe, and help is coming;

• Get the student help;

• Keep talking to people who care for the student.

F. Coming back to School After a Suicide Attempt

When a kid comes back after they say they are going to try suicide the adults will:

• Get permission from family to share information with the people at school who can help;

• Ask the student and family if there is anything the school can do to make coming back to school easier;

• Let the teachers know if the student will miss any days;

• Let the student make up any schoolwork;

• Keep talking to the student to make sure they are feeling better;

• Work with the family and student to keep getting help.

G. Responding After a Suicide Death

If a student or adult dies by suicide, the adults at the school will:

• Make sure it is true and not a rumor before responding;

• Call the family;

• Have a meeting of the adults chosen to respond;

• Talk to all the people who work at the school;

• Talk to the kids who knew the student or adult.

• Share things that will help students feel better.

• Make sure others get help if they are thinking of doing the same thing.

Get Help Now

If you or someone else needs support, a trained crisis counselor can be reached by calling or texting:

• Text or call 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, Text HELLO to 741-741

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or by texting TALK to 741741. 

• Personas que hablan español, llamen a the Lifeline al 888-682-9454. 

• For teens, call the TEEN LINE at 310-855-4673 or text TEEN to 839863. 

• For veterans, call the Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) and press 1. 

• For LGBTQ youth, call The Trevor Project at 866-488-7386 or text START to 678678. 

• For transgender people, call the Trans Lifeline at 877-565-8860. 

• For people who are deaf or hard of hearing, call the Lifeline at 800-799-4889. 

• For law enforcement personnel, call the COPLINE at 800-267-5463. 

• For other first responders, call the Fire/EMS Helpline at 888-731-FIRE (3473) 

All of the resources above provide confidential help and are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

The Governing Board of Palm Springs Unified School District recognizes that suicide is a leading cause of death among youth and that an even greater amount of California’s high school students report having considered and attempted suicide. During 2019, 15 percent of California seventh graders and 16 percent of ninth and eleventh graders reported they seriously considered attempting suicide. (California Healthy Kids Survey 2019). The Governing Board is encouraged to review California School Climate, Health, and Learning Surveys (CalSCHLS) data specific to their students. See the CalSCHLS website at https://calschls.org/.

Suicide prevention requires vigilant attention from school communities (all school staff, students, parents) and public members. As a result, school communities have an ethical and legal responsibility to provide appropriate and timely response to suicidal ideation, attempts, and deaths. School leaders and staff must ensure their campuses are safe and nurturing environments that mitigate suicidal ideation and behaviors in students and staff and that appropriate procedures, protocols, and supports are well promulgated and easily accessible to all.

Recognizing that it is the responsibility of the district and schools to protect the health, safety, and welfare of its students and staff, this policy aims to safeguard against suicide attempts, deaths, and other trauma associated with suicide, including ensuring adequate supports for students, staff, and families affected by suicidal behavior, attempts, and loss. It is a known fact that emotional wellness is central to all functioning, therefore, it is recommended this policy be paired with other policies that support the emotional and behavioral well-being of students and staff.

This policy is based on research and best practices in suicide prevention and has been adopted with the understanding that positive and nurturing school climates coupled with suicide prevention activities decrease suicide risk, increase help-seeking behavior, identify those who may be suicidal, and help decrease such behaviors. Of significant importance is the education of students to recognize their own mental health, equip them with information and knowledge to solicit help, and learn to recognize symptoms within themselves and their peers.

Understanding the impact school climate has on suicidality is critically important as positive school climates have been linked to lower levels of violence, bullying victimization, and greater perceived safety. School climate is of particular importance since it affects the risk of suicidality among youth. Palm Springs Unified School District and school leaders underscore the importance of all staff and students working together to create safe, respectful, nurturing, and welcoming campuses in which students feel comfortable seeking help for themselves or their peers. Leaders provide opportunities for continuous improvement and monitoring of school climate.

In an attempt to reduce suicidal behavior and its impact on students and families, the Palm Springs Unified School District has developed strategies for suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention, and the identification of the mental health challenges frequently associated with suicidal thinking and behavior. These strategies include professional development for all school personnel (certificated and classified) in all job categories who regularly interact with students or are in a position to recognize the risk factors and warning signs of suicide.

Recognizing that early prevention and intervention can drastically reduce the risk of suicide, the Palm Springs Unified School District has developed and implemented preventive strategies and intervention procedures that include the following:

Overall Strategic Plan for Suicide Prevention

The Palm Springs Unified School District consults school-employed professionals (e.g., school counselors, psychologists, social workers, nurses), administrators, other school staff members, parents/guardians/caregivers, students, local health agencies and mental health professionals, first responders, and community organizations in planning, implementing, evaluating, and updating the district’s strategies for suicide prevention and intervention. The Palm Springs Unified School District also regularly convenes these stakeholders to review the policy, at a minimum every five years, and update as necessary as required by EC Section 215.

District Suicide Prevention Crisis Team

Laura Meusel – Executive Director Student Services

Lisa Todd – Director of Student Services

Laura Dyson – Director of Health Services

Jodi Curtis – Director of Special Education

Danielle McClain-Parks – Coordinator of Mental Health

Brandi Scott – Coordinator of Educationally Related Mental Health

Marisol Guerrero – Counselor on Special Assignment

Jennifer Moya – Lead School Psychologist

Maryrose Cachola – BCBA Special Education

Tammy Heo – BCBA General Education

To ensure the policies regarding suicide prevention are properly adopted, implemented, and updated, the Palm Springs Unified School District created an in-house suicide prevention crisis team consisting of administrators, mental health professionals, and relevant staff. It is encouraged for each school to identify one staff member to serve as the liaison to the district’s suicide prevention crisis team. Additionally, each school site should identify one or two students to represent the student voice on this team.

The functions of this crisis team are to review mental health related school policies and procedures; provide annual updates on school and district data and trends; review and revise school prevention policies; review and select general and specialized mental health and suicide prevention training; review and oversee staff, parent/guardian, and student trainings; ensuring the suicide prevention policy, protocols, and resources are posted on the district and school websites; and general compliance with EC Section 215.

This crisis team also collaborates with community mental health organizations, identifies resources and agencies that provide evidence-based or evidence-informed treatment, helps inform and build skills among law enforcement and other relevant partners, and collaborates to build community response.

Employee Qualifications and Scope of Services

The Palm Springs Unified School District has ensured district and school employees adhere to EC Section 215 which mandates district and school employees and their partners to act only within the authorization and scope of their credential or license. While it is expected that school professionals are able to identify suicide risk factors and warning signs, screen and assess to identify suicide risk, and to provide ongoing supports to youth identified at risk, the care or treatment for suicidal ideation is typically beyond the scope of services offered in the school setting.

Intervention and Referral for Suicide Screening or Risk Assessment

Palm Springs Unified School District ensures the district suicide prevention crisis team members receive advanced training in suicide prevention, intervention and postvention. The crisis team is responsible for immediately establishing contact with the student and after assessment, shall contact their parents/guardians, if deemed safe. Whenever a staff member suspects or has knowledge of a student’s suicidal intentions, they are required to promptly notify the appropriate school and staff, as outlined in the protocol.

Whenever a staff member has knowledge of a student’s suicidal intentions or potential risk of suicide, they are required to promptly notify the suicide prevention crisis team through a formal referral process for immediate assessment of the student. The district has developed and disseminated protocols for screening, assessing, and referring students who may be experiencing suicidal thoughts and/or behavior. The following is included in the protocol:

• Students experiencing suicidal ideation shall not be left unsupervised; students with ideation or suicidal behaviors should be respectfully escorted to the office for an assessment and never sent alone or without staff supervision.
• Collaboration and communication between the teacher/staff and the suicide prevention crisis team is critical during the supervision, referral, and assessment processes.
• A referral process is prominently disseminated to all staff members (classified & certificated) so all know how to respond to a crisis, refer students for further screening/assessment, understand the safety issues of escorting a student, and are knowledgeable about school and community-based resources.
• The referral process includes steps to properly coordinate, consult and make a referral to the local county mental health plan (MHP) on behalf of any student.
• The district has established crisis intervention procedures to ensure student safety and appropriate communications if a suicide death occurs or an attempt is made by a student or adult on campus or at a school-sponsored activity.
• The crisis team is required to notify, if appropriate and in the best interest of the student, the student’s parents/guardians/caregivers as soon as possible and shall refer the student to mental health resources in the school or community. Determination of notification to parents/guardians/caregivers should follow a formal initial assessment to ensure that the student is not endangered by parental notification.

Imminent Danger

The district recognizes that student safety is a priority. If the student is in imminent danger (e.g., has access to a gun, is on a rooftop, or in other unsafe conditions, etc.) staff members are required to request assistance from Student Services and call 911. The call shall NOT be made in the presence of the student and the student shall not be left unsupervised. Staff shall NOT physically restrain or block an exit.

Parents, Guardians, Caregivers, and Families

The district has established a referral process to all parents/guardians/caregivers/families, so they are aware of how to respond to a crisis and are knowledgeable about protocols and school, community-based, and crisis resources.

Community-based organizations that provide evidence-based suicide-specific treatments are highlighted on the districts website with treatment referral options marked accordingly.

Resources are prominently displayed on the district website.

Students

The district has established and widely disseminated a referral process to all students, so they know how to access support through school, community-based, and crisis services.

Students shall be encouraged to notify a staff member when they are experiencing emotional distress or suicidal ideation, or when they have knowledge or concerns of another student’s emotional distress, suicidal ideation, or attempt.

Parental Notification and Involvement

Each school within the district has identified a process for ensuring parent/guardian/caregiver/family notification when a student has been screened or screened/assessed for suicide risk regardless of outcome (no present risk to high-risk).

Each school within the district has identified a process to ensure continuing care for the student identified to have suicidal ideation. The following steps should be followed to ensure continuity of care:

• After a referral is made for a student, school staff are required to verify with the parent/guardian/caregiver/family that follow-up treatment has been accessed.
• If parents/guardians/caregivers/families refuse or neglect to access treatment for a student who has been identified to be at-risk for suicide or in emotional distress, the suicide point of contact (or other appropriate school or staff member) will meet with the parents/guardians/caregivers/families to identify barriers to treatment (e.g., cultural stigma, financial issues), work to rectify the situation, and build understanding of the importance of care. If follow-up care for the student is still not provided, school or LEA staff should consider contacting Child Protective Services (CPS) to report neglect of the youth.

Action Plan for In-School or During School Sponsored Suicide Attempts

If a suicide attempt is made during the school day on campus, it is important to remember that the health and safety of the student and those around them is critical. The following steps should be implemented for a suicide attempt on campus:

• Remain calm, remember the student is overwhelmed, confused, and emotionally distressed.
• Move all other students out of the immediate area.
• Immediately contact the administrator or suicide prevention liaison.
• Call 911 and give them as much information about any suicide note, medications taken, and access to weapons, if applicable.
• If needed, provide medical first aid until a medical professional is available.
• Parents/guardians/caregivers/families should be contacted as soon as possible.
• Do not send the student away or leave them alone, even if they need to go to the restroom.
• Listen and prompt the student to talk.
• Review options and resources of people who can help.
• Be comfortable with moments of silence as you and the student will need time to process the situation.
• Provide comfort to the student.
• Promise privacy and help, and be respectful, but do not promise confidentiality.
• Students should only be released to parents/guardians/caregivers/families or to a person who is qualified and trained to provide help.

Action Plan for Out-of-School Suicide Attempts

If a suicide attempt by a student is outside of school, the following steps should be implemented (it is critical for the district to protect the privacy of the student and maintain a confidential record of the actions taken to intervene, support, and protect the student):

• Contact the parents/guardians/caregivers/families and offer support.
• Discuss with the family how they would like the school to respond to the attempt while minimizing widespread rumors among teachers, staff, and students.
• Obtain permission from the parents/guardians/caregivers/families to share information and ensure the facts regarding the crisis is correct.
• Provide care and determine appropriate support to affected students.
• Offer to the student and parents/guardians/caregivers/families steps for re-integration to school.

Re-Entry and Supporting Students after Mental Health Crisis

Supporting Students after a Mental Health Crisis

It is crucial that careful steps are taken to help provide the mental health support for the student and to monitor their actions for any signs of suicide. The Palm Springs Unified School District has determined the following steps be implemented after the crisis:

• Treat every threat with seriousness and approach with a calm manner; make the student a priority.
• Listen actively and non-judgmentally to the student. Let the student express their feelings.
• Acknowledge the feelings and do not argue with the student.
• Offer hope and let the student know they are safe, and that help is available. Do not promise confidentiality or cause stress.
• Explain calmly and get the student to a skilled mental health professional or designated staff to further support the student.
• Keep close contact with the parents/guardians/caregivers/families and mental health professionals working with the student.

Re-Entry to School After a Suicide Attempt

A student who has verbalized ideation or attempted suicide is at a higher risk for suicide in the months following the crisis. Having a streamlined and well-planned re-entry process ensures the safety and wellbeing of students who have previously attempted suicide and reduces the risk of another attempt. An appropriate re-entry process is an important component of suicide prevention. Involving students in planning for their return to school provides them with a sense of control, personal responsibility, and empowerment.

The Palm Springs Unified School District has determined the following steps be implemented upon the student’s re-entry:

• The school or administrator shall obtain a written release of information signed by parents/guardians/caregivers/families and providers.
• School or district-based mental health professionals shall confer with the student and parents/guardians/caregivers/families about any specific requests on how to handle the situation.
• School or district-based mental health professionals shall confer with the student and parents/guardians/caregivers/families to develop a safety plan.
• School or district-based mental health professionals shall inform the student’s teachers about possible days of absences.
• Teachers and administrators shall allow accommodations for student to make up work (understanding that missed assignments may add stress to student).
• Mental health professionals or trusted staff members shall maintain ongoing contact to monitor student’s actions and mood.
• School or district-based mental health professionals shall work with parents/guardians/caregivers/families to involve the student in an aftercare plan.
• School or district-based mental health professionals shall provide parent’s/guardians/caregivers/families local emergency numbers for after school and weekend emergency contacts.

Responding After a Suicide Death (Postvention)

It is important to remember that staff members are likely grieving as well and consider the capacity of staff members to engage in sensitive discourse with students. When possible, provide additional support to staff to lead conversations in response to suicide deaths.

A death by suicide of a student or staff member can have devastating consequences on the school community. Therefore, it is vital that we are prepared ahead of time in the event of such a tragedy. PrePare training has a suicide postvention response action plan for responding to a suicide death. This plan incorporates both immediate and long-term steps and objectives, including:

• Identification of a staff member to confirm death and cause (usually school site administrator).
• Identification a staff member (administrator or school or district-based mental health professional) to contact deceased’s family (within 24 hours).
• Conduct an initial meeting of the District/school Crisis Team.
• Notification to all staff members (ideally in-person or via phone, not via e-mail or mass notification).
• Coordinate an all-staff meeting, to include:
  • Notification (if not already conducted) to staff about suicide death.
  • Emotional support and resources available to staff.
  • Notification to students about suicide death and the availability of support services.

Best practices suggest to respond to deaths by suicide similar to any death, regardless of the cause, but with special considerations to reduce risk of contagion. For example, it is recommended to avoid permanent memorials for any death but especially in response to suicide due to potential glamorization of the individual.

It is important to incorporate procedures with specific actions ahead of time to respond to suicide incidents.

• • Share limited information and ensure that is relevant and for which you have permission to disclose. Staff shall not share explicit, graphic, or dramatic content, including the manner of death.
• Remind and direct staff to respond to needs of students regarding the following:
  • Review signs of emotional distress and suicide ideation.
  • Review of protocols for referring students for support/assessment.
  • Develop and provide supports to staff in responding to student reactions.
  • Share school, district, community-based resources available to students.
• Identify students significantly affected by suicide death and other students that may be considering imitative behavior.
  • Staff shall immediately refer students who they suspect are considering imitative behavior to a school-based mental health professional.
  • If deemed safe, staff shall contact the students’ parents/guardians/caregivers/families.
• Identify students affected by suicide death but not at risk of imitative behavior.
  • Staff shall immediately refer students who are affected by the suicide to a school-based mental health professional.
  • If deemed safe, staff shall contact the students’ parents/guardians/caregivers/families.
• Notification to larger school community about suicide death and the availability of support services.
• Consider as appropriate working with the family regarding funeral arrangements for family and school community.
  • • If possible, suggest the funeral occur outside of school hours.
    • Encourage parents/guardians of students to attend funeral/memorial with their children.
    • Request family approval to attend and staff a table for resources to be available at the funeral, if possible, to remind students and the community of available resources.
    • Offer a safe space on campus for students to utilize if needed before/after funeral or memorial service.
    • Acknowledge there may be a high rate of absenteeism on the day of the funeral and school officials should make appropriate accommodations for staff and students to attend.
• Respond to memorial requests in respectful and non-harmful manner; responses should be handed in a thoughtful way and their impact on other students should be considered.
• Identify media spokesperson skilled to cover story without the use of explicit, graphic, or dramatic content (visit https://reportingonsuicide.org/ for recommendations on safe messaging). Research has proven that sensationalized media coverage can lead to contagious suicidal behaviors.
• Utilize and respond to social media outlets:
  • Identify what platforms students are using to respond to suicide death.
  • Identify and encourage staff and students to monitor social media outlets.
• Include long-term suicide postvention responses:
  • Consider important dates (i.e., anniversary of death, deceased birthday, graduation, or other significant events) and how these will be addressed.
  • Support siblings, close friends, teachers, and/or students of deceased.
  • Consider long-term memorials and how they may impact students who are emotionally vulnerable and suicidal.

The district believes the practices outlined in this policy will assist in reducing the suicidal ideation and attempts of our school community members.

Get Help Now

If you or someone else needs support, a trained crisis counselor can be reached by calling or texting:

• Text or call 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, Text HELLO to 741-741

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or by texting TALK to 741741.

• Personas que hablan español, llamen a the Lifeline al 888-682-9454.

• For teens, call the TEEN LINE at 310-855-4673 or text TEEN to 839863.

• For veterans, call the Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) and press 1.

• For LGBTQ youth, call The Trevor Project at 866-488-7386 or text START to 678678.

• For transgender people, call the Trans Lifeline at 877-565-8860.

• For people who are deaf or hard of hearing, call the Lifeline at 800-799-4889.

• For law enforcement personnel, call the COPLINE at 800-267-5463.

• For other first responders, call the Fire/EMS Helpline at 888-731-FIRE (3473)

All of the resources above provide confidential help and are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Suicide Awareness and Prevention Training for School Staff

The Palm Springs Unified School District along with its partners, have carefully reviewed available staff trainings to ensure the selected curriculum is evidence-based, evidence-informed, and aligned with best practices in suicide prevention.

EC Section 215 mandates LEAs to provide training for staff. The Palm Springs Unified School District has provided professional development for all school staff members (certificated and classified) via Keenan Safe Schools Training which is mandatory.  Additionally, any staff can voluntarily attend Youth First Mental Health Training. 

• At least annually, all staff receive training on mental health awareness and suicide prevention that includes risk and protective factors, warning signs of suicide, intervention, referral processes, and postvention.
• All suicide prevention trainings are to be offered under the direction of school-employed student mental health professionals (e.g., school counselors, psychologists, social workers, nurses, etc.), who have received advanced training specific in suicide prevention. The district has collaborated with Riverside University Health to review the training materials and content to ensure it is evidence-based, evidence-informed, and aligned with best practices. Mental Health professionals listed above take the additional advanced training PrePare every two years.
• Staff training is reviewed and adjusted annually based on previous professional development activities, emerging best practices, and feedback.
• At a minimum, all staff participate in training on the core components of suicide prevention (identification of suicide risk and protective factors and warning signs, prevention, intervention, referral, and postvention) at the beginning of their employment prior to working with youth.
• The district has ensured training is available for new hires during the school year.
• Previously employed staff members attend a minimum of one-hour general suicide prevention training. Core components of the general suicide prevention training shall include:

• • How to identify youth who may be at risk for suicide including suicide warning signs, risk, and protective factors.

It is important to recognize that even if a staff member has been through mental health and suicide prevention training, they may not be, for a myriad of reasons, available to support a youth who may be struggling emotionally. In this case, they shall connect the student with another staff member in a “warm hand off.” A warm handoff is a transfer of care between two members of a team, where the handoff occurs immediately and in front of the student or family. Students should not be left to connect with another staff member on their own but rather should be accompanied to meet the staff to whom they are being transferred.

• Appropriate ways to approach, interact, and respond to a youth who is demonstrating emotional distress or having thoughts of suicide including skill building to ask directly about suicide thoughts.
• District-approved procedures for responding to suicide risk (including programs and services in a Multi-tiered System of Support (MTSS) and referral protocols). Such procedures will emphasize the student should be under constant supervision and immediately referred for a suicide risk assessment.
• District-approved procedures identifying the role educators, school staff, and volunteers play in supporting youth and staff after a suicide or suicide death or attempt (postvention).

• In addition to the core components of suicide prevention, ongoing annual professional development for all staff should include the following:

• • The impact of traumatic stress on emotional and mental health with an emphasis on reducing stigma associated with mental illness and that early prevention and intervention can drastically reduce the risk of suicide.
  • Common misconceptions about suicide.
  • School and community mental health and suicide prevention resources.
  • Appropriate messaging about suicide (correct terminology, safe messaging guidelines).
  • Ways to identify youth who may be at risk for suicide including suicide warning signs, risk, and protective factors.
  • Appropriate ways to approach, interact, and respond to a youth who is demonstrating emotional distress or having thoughts of suicide including skill building to ask directly about suicide thoughts and warm handoffs.
  • District-approved procedures for responding to suicide risk (including MTSS and referrals). Such procedures will emphasize that the student should be constantly supervised and immediately referred for a suicide risk assessment.
  • District-approved procedures identifying the role educators play in supporting youth and staff after a suicide or suicide death or attempt (postvention).

• The professional development includes additional information regarding groups of students who may be at elevated risk for suicide or groups disproportionately affected by suicide thoughts and behaviors. These groups include, but are not limited to, the following:

• • Youth impacted by suicide and youth with a history of suicidal thoughts or behavior.
  • Youth with disabilities, mental illness, or substance use disorders.
  • Youth experiencing homelessness or in out-of-home settings, such as foster care.
  • Youth identifying as LGBTQ.

Palm Springs Unified School District uses the Panorama SEL survey twice a year to determine data to determine the prevalence of suicidal ideation and behaviors, including patterns or trends, among all students, particularly among identified high-risk populations at their schools and district.

Specialized Professional Development for District-based Mental Health Staff (Screening and/or Assessment)

Additional professional development in suicide risk assessment (SRA) and crisis intervention is provided to designated student mental health professionals, including but not limited to school counselors, psychologists, social workers, administrators, and nurses employed by the Palm Springs Unified School District. Training for these staff is specific to conducting SRAs, intervening during a crisis, de-escalating situations, interventions specific to preventing suicide, making referrals, safety planning, and re-entry.

Specialized Professional Training for targeted district-based mental health staff includes the following components:

• Best practices and skill building on how to conduct an effective suicide risk screening/SRA using an evidence-based, district-approved tool such as the Columbia—Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) (can be accessed here: https://cssrs.columbia.edu/the-columbia-scale-c-ssrs/cssrs-for-communities-and-healthcare/#filter=.healthcare.english); Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) Depression Scale (can be accessed here: https://www.phqscreeners.com/select-screener); BSS Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (can be accessed here: https://www.pearsonassessments.com/store/usassessments/en/Store/Professional-Assessments/Personality-%26-Biopsychosocial/Beck-Scale-for-Suicide-Ideation/p/100000157.html); National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)’s Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ) Toolkit (can be accessed here: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/research/research-conducted-at-nimh/asq-toolkit-materials); and the Adolescent Suicide Assessment Protocol – 20 (this PDF can be accessed here: https://preventsuicidewv.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/ADOLESCENT-SUICIDE-ASSESSMENT-PROTOCOL.pdf).
• Best practices on approaching and talking with a student about their thoughts of suicide and how to respond to such thinking, based on district guidelines and protocols.
• Best practices on how to talk with a student about thoughts of suicide and appropriately respond and provide support based on district guidelines and protocols.
• Best practices on follow up with parents/caregivers.
• Best practices on re-entry.

Parents, Guardians, and Caregivers Participation and Education

In an effort to include parents/guardians/caregivers in all suicide prevention efforts, Palm Springs Unified School District has shared this suicide prevention policy and procedures widely and included in the parent/student handbooks.

This suicide prevention policy is also prominently displayed on the Palm Springs Unified web page and on all schools within the district.

Parents/guardians/caregivers are invited to provide input on the development and implementation of this policy. Parents/guardians/caregivers are provided crisis resources including the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, Crisis text line, and local crisis hotlines and includes information that hotlines/resources are not just for crisis but also for friends/family and referral.

• All parents/guardians/caregivers have access to suicide prevention training that addresses the following:
  • Suicide warning signs, risk factors, and protective factors
  • How to approach and talk with their children about thoughts of suicide
  • How to respond appropriately to the youth who has suicidal thoughts

Directing Change’s What I Wish My Parents Knew (the PDF can be accessed here: https://www.directingchangeca.org/wp-content/uploads/What-I-Wish-My-Parents-Knew-Toolkit.pdf), NASP’s Anxiety and Anxiety Disorders in Children and Preventing Youth Suicide (see: https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/school-safety-and-crisis/mental-health-resources/preventing-youth-suicide), as well as sharing NASP’s comprehensive collection of resources included in the Helping Handouts: Supporting Students at School and Home (accessed here: https://www.nasponline.org/books-and-products/products/books/titles/helping-handouts-supporting-children-at-home-and-at-school) and Suicidal Thinking and Threats: Helping Handout for Home (PDF can be downloaded here: https://www.nasponline.org/Documents/S3H14_Brock_Reeves_Parents_Suicide.pdf). For a curated list of parent/caregiver trainings, please visit Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Trainings/Programs for School Communities.

Communication with Parents, Caregivers, and Families:

Parents, guardians, caregivers, and families play a vital role in the prevention of youth suicide.

The Palm Springs Unified School District provides various training opportunities for parents, families, and caregivers to help them learn how to recognize and identify suicide risk, protective factors, as well as the district’s referral processes and how they or their children can reach out for help, etc.

All parents are provided with information on suicide prevention resources including crisis hotlines, local warmlines, and also school and community-based supports. If parents, families, and/or caregivers identify or suspect a suicide risk, they are strongly encouraged to communicate with appropriate school staff (counselor, administration, nurse, school-employed mental health professional, etc.) for assistance. The district mental health professionals are equipped to help identify and support a student at risk of suicide and are trained to ensure the safety of all students. This may include collaborating with other professionals (primary care doctors, marriage and family therapists, etc.) to develop a course of action and/or safety plan. Parents, caregivers, and families are reminded that mental health and academic records are kept separately to ensure confidentiality and to help protect the privacy of education records.

Student Participation and Education

Effective suicide prevention efforts must also include student education and engagement. The Palm Springs Unified School District and its partners has and will continue to carefully review potential student curricula to ensure it includes information on recognizing and responding to signs and symptoms (within themselves and friends), learning coping skills, encourage help-seeking behavior and being knowledgeable of supports and resources.

The Palm Springs Unified School District provides instruction to middle and high school students on general mental health and suicide prevention. The instruction is provided under the supervision of professionals, with input from county and community mental health agencies, and middle and high school students. The instruction is developmentally appropriate, student-centered, and includes:

• Recognizing behaviors (signs and symptoms) of mental health challenges and emotional distress.
• Recognizing life issues (risk factors) associated with suicide and mental health issues in oneself and others.
• Learning coping strategies for dealing with stress and trauma.
• Learning about protective factors.
• Learning help-seeking strategies for oneself and others, including how to engage school-based and community resources and refer peers for help.
• Emphasis on reducing the stigma associated with mental illness and the fact that early prevention and intervention can drastically reduce the risk of suicide.
• Guidance regarding the district’s suicide prevention, intervention, and referral procedures.

Palm Springs has shared supports and self-reporting procedures, so students are able to seek help if they are experiencing thoughts of suicide or if they recognize signs with peers. Although confidentiality and privacy are important, students should understand safety is a priority and if there is a risk of suicide, school staff are required to report. District-based mental health professionals are legally and ethically required to report suicide risk. When reporting suicidal ideation or an attempt, school staff must maintain confidentiality and only share information limited to the risk or attempt.

Appendix A: Resources

Supporting Students During a Local, Regional, or National Crisis:

• Psychological First Aid for Schools (PFA-S) is an evidence-informed intervention model to assist students, families, school personnel, and school partners in the immediate aftermath of an emergency. PFA-S is designed to reduce the initial distress caused by emergencies, and to foster short- and long-term adaptive functioning and coping. For more information, see the PFA-S web page at https://www.nctsn.org/resources/psychological-first-aid-schools-pfa-s-field-operations-guide.

General Resources:

• The K–12 Toolkit for Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention has been created to help schools comply with and implement AB 2246, the Pupil Suicide Prevention Policies. The Toolkit includes resources for schools as they promote youth mental wellness, intervene in a mental health crisis, and support members of a school community after the loss of someone to suicide. To access the toolkit, please visit http://www.heardalliance.org/help-toolkit/.
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Preventing Suicide: A Toolkit for High Schools; to access the toolkit, please visit the product’s web page at: https://store.samhsa.gov/product/Preventing-Suicide-A-Toolkit-for-High-Schools/SMA12-4669.
• Trevor Project Model Suicide Prevention Policy; for more information, please visit The Trevor Project’s Public Education web page at: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/public-education/.

• Signs of Suicide Depression Screening Program (SOS); for more information, please visit the SOS web page at https://www.mindwise.org/sos-signs-of-suicide/.

Safe and Effective Messaging for Suicide Prevention:

• For information on public messaging on suicide prevention, see the Framework for Successful Messaging web page from the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention website: http://suicidepreventionmessaging.org/.
• Preventing Suicide: A Resource for Media Professionals is a resource booklet addressed to media professionals who play a role particularly relevant to the prevention of suicide. The booklet was written by the World Health Organization and the International Association for Suicide Prevention. See the resource guide at https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/258814/WHO-MSD-MER-17.5-eng.pdf;jsessionid=6FC6A56E272B0A4A3C2C38379488F1D8?sequence=1.
• For information on engaging the media regarding suicide prevention visit www.reportingonsuicide.org.
• SAVE (Suicide Awareness Voices of Education); see SAVE’s Responsible Media Reporting web page at https://save.org/about-suicide/preventing-suicide/reporting-on-suicide/.
• For more information regarding blogging on suicide, please visit https://www.bloggingonsuicide.org/.
• Entertainment Industries Council; for more information, you can access the Social Media Guidelines for Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention PDF here: https://www.eiconline.org/_files/ugd/aec3fc_9b403ff020b24489aa7f8a90d058ea07.pdf.

Staff Trainings:

• Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) teaches a 5-step action plan to offer initial help to young people showing signs of a mental illness or in a crisis, and connect them with the appropriate professional, peer, social, or self-help care. YMHFA is an eight-hour interactive training for youth-serving adults without a mental health background. See the Mental Health First Aid’s YMHFA web page at https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/cs/take-a-course/course-types/youth/.
• Free YMHFA Training is available on the CDE Mental Health web page at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/cg/mh/projectcalwell.asp.
• Question, Persuade, and Refer (QPR) is a gatekeeper training that can be taught online. Just as people trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the Heimlich Maneuver help save thousands of lives each year, people trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer someone to help. See the QPR website at http://qprinstitute.com.
• SafeTALK is a half-day alertness training that prepares anyone over the age of fifteen, regardless of prior experience or training, to become a suicide-alert helper. See the LivingWorks’ safeTALK web page at https://legacy.livingworks.net/programs/safetalk/.
• Kognito At-Risk is an evidence-based series of three online interactive professional development modules designed for use by individuals, schools, districts, and statewide agencies. It includes tools and templates to ensure that the program is easy to disseminate and measures success at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. See the Kognito’s All Solutions for PK-12 web page at https://kognito.com/pk-12/all-solutions/.

Specialized Training, Assessment:

• Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) is a two-day interactive workshop in suicide first aid. ASIST teaches participants to recognize when someone may have thoughts of suicide and work with them to create a plan that will support their immediate safety. See the LivingWorks’ ASIST web page at https://legacy.livingworks.net/programs/asist/.
• School-based Suicide Risk Screening: This 2.5-hour training is available for free and provides guidance on effective screening for suicide risk and suggestions to increase safety for students utilizing evidence-based tools such as safety planning as well as steps for re-entry. To register or for more information regarding training on suicide risk screening in schools, visit the Mental Health Services Oversight & Accountability Commission website at: https://mhsoac.ca.gov/initiatives/suicide-prevention/school-suicide-risk-screening/. Assessing and Managing Suicide Risk (AMSR) is a one-day training workshop for behavioral health professionals based on the latest research and designed to help participants provide safer suicide care. See the Suicide Prevention Resource Center’s AMSR web page at http://www.sprc.org/training-events/amsr.
• For the SAMHSA’s Suicide Safe application for suicide assessment, visit the application’s product web page at: https://store.samhsa.gov/product/suicide-safe.

Parent Resources:

• Parents as Partners: A Suicide Prevention Guide for Parents is a booklet that contains useful information for parents/guardians/caregivers who are concerned that their children may be suicidal. It is available from Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE) website here: https://www.save.org/product/parents-as-partners/.
• What I Wish My Parents Knew: This toolkit provides step-by-step instructions on how to implement activities to engage parents/guardians on topics related to mental health; access this toolkit here: https://www.directingchangeca.org/wp-content/uploads/What-I-Wish-My-Parents-Knew-Toolkit.pdf.
• Know the Signs website: This website provides information on recognizing suicide risk, how to have a conversation about suicide and resources to support loved ones. See the Know the Signs website at https://www.suicideispreventable.org/.
  •  Take Action for Mental Health: Take Action for Mental Health is the campaign for California’s ongoing mental health movement. It builds upon established approaches and provides resources to support Californians’ mental health needs. You can find more information on the Take Action for Mental Health website at: https://takeaction4mh.com/.
• Depression: What is Depression? For more information, please visit the NIMH’s Depression web page at: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression.
• 12 Things Parents Can Do to Prevent Suicide; guide and video can be accessed here: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/emotional-problems/Pages/ten-things-parents-can-do-to-prevent-suicide.aspx.
• Teens and Suicide: What Parents Should Know; for more information, visit: https://afsp.org/teens-and-suicide-what-parents-should-know/.

Student Training Resources:

• LivingWorks Start; see the LivingWorks Start web page at https://www.livingworks.net/start.
• More Than Sad is school-ready and evidence-based training material, listed on the national Suicide Prevention Resource Center’s best practices list, specifically designed for teen-level suicide prevention. You can find more information on the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s More Than Sad web page at https://afsp.org/our-work/education/more-than-sad/.
• Break Free from Depression (BFFD) is a 4-module curriculum focused on increasing awareness about adolescent depression and designed for use in high school classrooms. See the Boston Children’s Hospital’s BFFD program web page at https://www.childrenshospital.org/programs/boston-childrens-hospital-neighborhood-partnerships-program/tap-online-trainings/break-free-depression-program.
• Coping and Support Training (CAST) is an evidence-based life-skills training and social support program to help at-risk youth. See the Reconnecting Youth Inc.’s CAST program web page at http://www.reconnectingyouth.com/programs/cast/.
• Students Mobilizing Awareness and Reducing Tragedies (SMART) is a program comprised of student-led groups in high schools designed to give students the freedom to implement a suicide prevention on their campus that best fits their school’s needs. See SAVE’s SMART Schools web page at https://www.save.org/what-we-do/education/smart-schools-program-2/.
• Linking Education and Awareness for Depression and Suicide (LEADS) for Youth is a school-based suicide prevention curriculum designed for high schools and educators that links depression awareness and secondary suicide prevention. LEADS for Youth is an informative and interactive opportunity for students and teachers to increase knowledge and awareness of depression and suicide. See SAVE’s LEADS web page at https://www.save.org/what-we-do/education/leads-for-youth-program/.
• The Youth Aware of Mental health (YAM) program is a program developed for teenagers aged 14–16 that uses interactive dialogue and role-playing to teach adolescents about the risk and protective factors associated with suicide (including knowledge about depression and anxiety) and enhances their problem-solving skills for dealing with adverse life events, stress, school, and other problems. For more information, visit the YAM website at https://www.y-a-m.org/.
• CDC’s Suicide Prevention Resource for Action; please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/suicide/resources/prevention.html.

Re-entry After an Attempt or Leave of Absence for Mental Health:

• The School Reentry for a Student Who Has Attempted Suicide or Made Serious Suicidal Threats is a guide that will assist in school re-entry for students after an attempted suicide. See the Mental Health Recovery Services Resource web page at http://www.mhrsonline.org/resources/suicide%5Cattempted_suicide_resources_for_schools-9/
• Virtual Hope Box; the product web page can be accessed here: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/virtual-hope-box/id825099621.
• A Friend Asks from Jason Foundation; the product web page can be accessed here: https://jasonfoundation.com/get-involved/student/a-friend-asks-app/.

Postvention:

• After a Suicide: A Toolkit for School is a comprehensive guide that will assist schools on what to do if a suicide death takes place in the school community. This guide can be accessed here: http://www.sprc.org/comprehensive-approach/postvention.
• Help & Hope for Survivors of Suicide Loss is a guide to help those during the bereavement process and who were greatly affected by the death of a suicide; this guide can be accessed here: http://www.sprc.org/resources-programs/help-hope-survivors-suicide-loss.
• Kognito Resilient Together Coping with Loss at School is an interactive role-play simulation to prepare schools for responding to a death in the school community. Teachers and administrators learn key elements of a crisis response plan, including postvention, and best practices for communicating with students and colleagues impacted by a loss in the school. See the Kognito’s Coping with Loss at School web page at https://kognito.com/solution/resilient-together-coping-with-loss-at-school/.
• PREPaRE 3^rd edition Training helps train the crisis staff who respond to the students and staff in the immediate follow up and over time. It also provides forms for use and documentation. Also, considerations of compassion fatigue with staff providing such services. See the PREPaRE training web page at https://www.nasponline.org/professional-development/prepare-training-curriculum.
• For additional information on suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention, see the Mental Health Recovery Services Model Protocol web page at https://www.mhrbwcc.org/prevention-and-resources/.
• Information on school climate and school safety is available on the CDE Safe Schools Planning web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/ss/vp/safeschlplanning.asp.
• Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL); see the CASEL program guide web page at https://casel.org/guide/programs/.

Note: This model policy is considered exemplary and is not prescriptive, per EC Section 33308.15:

1. Program guidelines issued by the State Department of Education shall be designed to serve as a model or example, and shall not be prescriptive. Program guidelines issued by the department shall include written notification that the guidelines are merely exemplary, and that compliance with the guidelines is not mandatory.
2. The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall review all program guidelines prepared by the State Department of Education prior to issuance to local education agencies. The superintendent shall approve the proposed guidelines only if he or she determines that all of the following conditions are met:

1. 1. The guidelines are necessary.
   2. The department has the authority to issue the guidelines.
   3. The guidelines are clear and appropriately referenced to, and consistent with, existing statutes and regulations.

California Department of Education, Posted 2/1/2023