No. 5154

STUDENTS

Series 5000

Dealing with Youth Suicide and Prevention and Youth Suicide Attempts

Policy

It is the policy of the Region 15 Board of Education to take a pro-active position in the prevention of youth suicide.  The Board will provide in-service training for all staff, and education programs for the students, their parents and the community to increase their knowledge and awareness of the risk factors and behaviors that suggest suicidal thinking in the students, and know how to intervene in order to help prevent self-destructive behaviors and death.  The Board acknowledges that suicide is a complex issue.  Unfortunately, no amount of vigilance or training can eliminate the threat of youth suicide.  While school staff may recognize and identify potentially suicidal students, they are not legally qualified or professionally trained to make a clinical assessment of the degree of risk or provide in-depth counseling, and so must refer any youth identified as being at risk to appropriate community agencies or clinicians who can provide the necessary clinical assessment and services.

All school district personnel who have knowledge of a student's suicide threat or risk for suicide must follow the procedures and time lines described in the attached administrative regulations and procedures.

Approved:

25

November

1991

Revision Approved:

28

September

1998