The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that youth are currently experiencing a significant mental health crisis. In fact, a 2023 survey found that one in four high school students reported persistent feelings of sadness or of feeling hopeless. Also, death by suicide continues to be one of the leading causes of death among adolescents.
While the effects of suicide are far-reaching, it’s important to know that nine out of ten adults believe suicide can be prevented at least some of the time, and 93% say they would act if they were concerned about someone.
With September being Suicide Prevention Month, it is a great time to ensure you are following best practices.
Effective suicide prevention can include everyday actions, such as greeting students warmly, as well as more formal measures, like having clear protocols for responding to a suicide within the school community. To address this issue comprehensively, schools should establish robust suicide prevention policies and procedures that encompass staff training, clear procedures for crisis situations, student programs, and postvention support.
Staff Training Programs
Staff training is a critical component of any suicide prevention program. The role of school staff is to recognize when a student may be at risk and communicate that information to a qualified professional, such as a school counselor, school psychologist or mental health professional.
Suicidal behaviors exist on a continuum, from having suicidal thoughts to dying by suicide. Therefore, staff training should cover four key areas:
- Recognize risk factors: Understand the factors that can increase a student’s vulnerability.
- Identify warning signs: Learn to spot indicators of suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
- Understand protective factors: Protective factors are characteristics, conditions, or resources that decrease the likelihood of suicidal thoughts, attempts, or deaths.
- Respond effectively: Know how to react appropriately and provide an effective response to help a student in distress
Helping Students in Crisis
While many suicide prevention efforts are trying to assist students before they reach a point of crisis, it is critical that schools have a clear process of how to respond when a student expresses suicidal thoughts either directly or indirectly. Two goals should highlight any process: safety and support.
- Ensuring safety is a top priority when a student is experiencing a suicidal crisis. This means the student should never be left alone or placed in the care of another student. In addition to focusing on safety, it is essential to respond with compassion and empathy, providing support and understanding to the student in crisis.
- Although schools are often where a student may experience a suicidal crisis, they are not equipped to provide complete short-term or long-term support. This is similar to how schools respond to physical health emergencies. In these situations, the school’s role is to promptly connect the student with their parents or guardians and ensure that families are informed about available community resources.
Student Programs
When young people have thoughts about suicide, they are most likely to confide in their peers rather than adults. This means students are far more likely than adults to be aware of suicidal thoughts and behaviors among their peers.
Peer-to-peer programs provide a vital support network for students experiencing mental health challenges. These programs focus on empowering a select group of students to:
- Raise awareness of suicide and promote positive mental health messages throughout the school community.
- Recognize indicators and warning signs of suicidal behaviors in their classmates.
- Provide compassion and support to their peers in need and refer them to an appropriate staff member.
A widely used peer-to-peer program in schools is Hope Squad, which centers on promoting mental health and preventing suicide through student-led support and outreach.
Postvention
Following a death by suicide, the risk for suicide can increase among anyone impacted by the suicide. More so than any other age group, adolescents are susceptible to this risk, a phenomenon known as suicide contagion.
Postvention refers to interventions, services, and supports enacted in response to a suicide. A school’s comprehensive suicide prevention plan should include measures to help students and the school community cope with loss and prevent further tragedies. These measures should focus on minimizing the trauma caused by the event and helping students express and manage their emotions in healthy ways.
If you or someone you know needs help, please consider contacting either of the following resources:
- Crisis Text Line: Text ”HOME” or “HOLA” to 741741.
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call or text 9-8-8.
Related Resources
To learn more about how to better support students who may be struggling, read Raptor’s free Guide to K-12 Student Wellbeing.
