How to Handle a Suicide Crisis at School: Immediate Response Protocols

Disclaimer: This blog discusses the sad topic of death by suicide. If you are struggling while reading this article, please take a break. Talk to your supervisor or a friend if you find the struggle is more than you can handle. You can also get help by calling 988.

According to the most recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), WISQARS Leading Causes of Death Reports. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 10-14 and 25-34 and the third leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 15-24. This statistic is not meant to scare you but to help all educators understand the prevalence of this disease so that you can be aware of it and help your students.

This article aims to provide school administrators and teachers with clear, actionable steps to take during a suicide crisis and in the immediate aftermath of a student suicide attempt. There is power in the knowledge of how to respond effectively, ensure student safety and support, and guide schools in establishing comprehensive response protocols.

What are the response protocols to student suicide?

Knowing how your school will respond to the death of a student by suicide is critical. According to the National Association of School Psychologists, suicide is contagious. This means that if a student dies by suicide, it can set off a cluster of suicides in the school community. There are, however, ways to prevent this spread. Every school needs a written policy and procedure that establishes what to do if a student dies by suicide. Knowing ahead of time what to do can help reduce additional attempts.

Immediately after the death, it is essential to confirm facts and gather information from the student’s parents, law enforcement or coroner. The crisis team, which is hopefully already established, will need to be mobilized to react to the situation following the school suicide policy. The specifics of your plan may vary, but it should include the following steps.

1. Crisis Team Meeting

Call a school crisis team meeting to identify others who were close to the victim, students who are troubled by suicide, other students who may be having suicidal thoughts and any high-risk students with poor coping skills. When deciding which students to add to this high-risk group, it is better to cast a wider net rather than a smaller one.

These identified students and their parents should be notified of the death and offered post-vention assistance. It should also be noted that close friends and siblings of the victim will often take on a celebrity status among their classmates and will see a change in how their peers and adults interact with them. This change adds yet another layer of obstacles to navigate while dealing with their trauma.

2. Notifications

Notify all building personnel about the post-suicide plan by gathering an emergency faculty meeting. All teachers should set aside time to talk to students and discuss their reactions to the tragedy. Students who are very upset should be referred to the counseling team. Neither the student nor the suicidal act should be glorified or memorialized in any way.

3. Resources & Supports

Share resources with students and families who need additional support. Provide small group sessions where students can ask questions, dispel rumors and share a wide range of reactions.

4. Extended Services

Plan for extended services to be provided. The trauma left in the wake of a death by suicide can be immediate or may reveal itself months later. School plans should include checking in with students weeks or months later.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Toolkit has more information on creating or improving your school’s suicide plan.

What are the protocols for school response to a student’s suicide attempt?

According to the CDC, for every death by suicide, 25 people live through their suicide attempt. Hopefully, mental health professionals will treat these students, and they will return to school. Reregistering these students and bringing them back feeling safe and secure requires schools to have a protocol. Your district’s plan may vary but should include the following information.

1. A designated school staff member, such as a nurse, counselor, or administrator, should meet with the student and parents/guardian to create an individualized re-entry plan.
2. The designated staff member should then serve as a case manager for the student and as a link between the school, student and parents/guardian.
3. The plan should help the student with re-admission and alert other staff members to understand the recurring warning signs.

If a student suicide is attempted at school or there is a student suicide threat. The event must be treated as a medical emergency:

1. Call 9-1-1.
2. A staff member must remain with the student. They can not be left alone.
3. Notify parents.
4. Help to involve psychological or consultation services from the school or community.

All adults in the district should be trained on how to respond when a student threatens suicide or discloses suicidal thoughts. Do not be afraid to use the word suicide when talking to students. Many people fear that talking about suicide will increase suicidal thoughts among students, but it will not.

When issues of suicide are treated in a sensitive, caring, and respectful way, students tend to respond positively. They are more willing to seek and accept help. This means a person experiencing a mental health crisis is often relieved that someone cares about them and their well-being.