It is mandatory to take appropriate action if a student makes comments, threatens, or uses any action to threaten suicide.

• Locate appropriate help immediately.

• Notify parents immediately. Discuss with parents a course of action.

• Instruct someone to stay with the suicidal person in a place separate from others and try to keep them calm until professional help arrives.

• DO NOT LEAVE THEM ALONE!

• Staff with your Administrator, Counselor, and/or School Psychologist and if appropriate call:

  • Police 911

  • GLMH (Grand Lake Mental Health Center) crisis unit: 1-800-722-3611

  • Mental Health Professional Counselor the student is currently seeing

• A School Psychologist or GLMH can come out immediately and provide crisis service to determine if a student should be placed inpatient or needs to receive outpatient counseling. A GLMH therapist can see any child in crisis without parental consent or if a parent cannot be reached. They will attempt to contact the guardian and follow up with the family the next day to make sure the student is stable.

• Notify your Administrator of the situation.

WAYS TO HELP A SUICIDAL PERSON

• Be nonjudgmental. Do not debate the issues of suicide.

• Offer empathy, not sympathy.

• Do not offer empty words of reassurance.

• Do not be sworn to secrecy; seek support.

• Remove available methods of suicide when possible.

• Encourage the person in crisis to seek professional help.

• Take action. Know where help is available.

• Take every suicide threat, comment, or act seriously.

• At least one person needs to stay with the student, appoint someone to call the parents, someone to call GLMH and or the Police if needed.

• Have someone document every action you have taken in the circumstances.

• Make sure parents follow up with the appropriate intervention and if parents refuse to help their student then you need to make a referral to the police department and child welfare.