V. A. 28. Model Suicide Prevention Policy

POLICY INTRODUCTION/PURPOSE

This Policy is adopted by the West Warwick School Committee (the “Committee) and shall serve to protect the health and well-being of all students by having procedures in place to prevent, assess the risk of, intervene, and respond to suicide and suicide attempts by the students in the West Warwick School District (the “District”).

LEGAL AUTHORITY

This Policy is established and adopted pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-21.7, The Nathan Bruno/Jason Flatt Act, requiring each school district to adopt a policy on student suicide prevention.

DEFINITIONS

Comprehensive Approach to Suicide Prevention means an approach to suicide prevention that seeks to:

Identify and Assist Persons at Risk;
Increase Help-Seeking;
Ensure Access to Effective Mental Health and Suicide Care and Treatment;
Support Safe Care Transitions and Create Organizational Linkages;
Respond Effectively to Individuals in Crisis;
Provide for Immediate and Long-Term Postvention;
Reduce Access to Means of Suicide;
Enhance Life Skills and Resilience; and
Promote Social Connectedness and Support.

In crisis but not in immediate danger means that a student is in severe distress due to mental health symptoms, serious stressor, and/or is demonstrating suicidal intent or planning.

In immediate danger and crisis means that a student is an immediate danger to self or others and/or is in the process of attempting suicide.

In School Suicide Attempt shall mean a suicide attempt made during the school day and on the school campus, or during a school-sponsored activity or event in which the student is duly under the care of the school and its employees.

Kids Link RI is a behavioral health triage service and referral network that represents a collaboration of Gateway Healthcare, Lifespan, Hasbro Children’s Hospital, and Bradley Hospital, and provides triage, mental health referral services, and after care and support services for students and families, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Not in immediate danger but requires services means that a student identifies thoughts of death, but has no plan or intent to die, does not demonstrate suicidal behaviors, and has supports.

Out of School Suicide Attempt shall mean a suicide attempt by a student outside of the school day and off of the school campus.

Re-entry means a student’s re-entry to the school following an attempted suicide.

Referral Process means the recommended Suicide Prevention Initiative that links elementary, middle, and high school students with mental health services, as outlined in the Suicide Prevention Initiative Handbook.

School-Based Mental Health Professional means an employee of the school duly designated or appointed to addressing issues surrounding the mental health of students, and concerns surrounding suicide ideations or attempts by students.

School-Based Mental Health Team or School Team means the team of school employees duly designated or appointed to addressing issues surrounding the mental health of students, and concerns surrounding suicide ideations or attempts by students.

Suicide Postvention means an organized response in the aftermath of a suicide or suicide attempt to:

Facilitate the healing of individuals from the grief and distress of suicide loss;
Mitigate other negative effects of exposure to suicide; and
Prevent suicide among people who are at high risk after exposure to suicide.

Unite Rhode Island is a coordinated care network of health and social service providers serving RI that links students and families with organizations and services that address the social determinants of health that can influence student success in school.

PHILOSOPHY

The Committee recognizes that the safety, health, and well-being of students are of paramount importance in all of the District’s endeavors, and acknowledges that while the rates of suicide in Rhode Island have been historically low, data from the period previous to and during the pandemic has shown an increase in suicidal ideation and suicidal attempts among young Rhode Islanders.

Additionally, the Committee agrees that schools with positive school climate and integrated social emotional learning are more likely than comparison schools to achieve higher standards of school safety, including less bullying, less student isolation, more positive peer and teacher-student relationships, and less weapon threat and use on school campuses. Accordingly, the Committee further recognizes that a Comprehensive Approach to Suicide Prevention, as part of a Suicide Prevention Policy, shall help foster such a climate so as to ensure optimal outcomes in the mental and physical wellness of the District’s students.

POLICY STATEMENT

Suicide Prevention

Classroom Based Support
1. Pursuant to the Nathan Bruno Act, each middle and high school throughout the District shall implement an evidence-based, developmentally appropriate suicide prevention curricula for all public-school students in grades 6-12 in each academic year.
2. Schools shall select suicide prevention curricula from the RIDE approved list of curricula and approved training materials.
3. Suicide prevention curricula education and training can be incorporated into classroom curricula, e.g., health classes, freshman orientation, science, physical education, and others, as appropriate.
4. Training materials and curricula must include training on how to identify appropriate mental health services both within the school and the larger community, and when and how to refer students and their families to those services.
5. Training is required for all students, each school year. School leaders and Teams shall use professional judgement in exempting any student from training. If a student expresses discomfort with the training or discomfort related to the training, school leaders and Teams shall pursue other avenues of instruction.
6. All training shall be provided by qualified suicide prevention instructors, as determined by the school or District.

Staff Professional Development
1. Pursuant to the Nathan Bruno Act, all public school personnel hired or contracted by the District shall receive a training in suicide prevention every year.
2. School personnel hired or contracted by the District shall include, but is not limited to: teachers, administration, custodians, lunch personnel, substitute teachers, nurses, coaches and coaching staff, and volunteers.
3. Schools shall select suicide prevention curricula from the RIDE approved list of curricula and approved training materials.
4. Training materials and curricula must include training on how to identify appropriate mental health services both within the school and the larger community, and when and how to refer students and their families to those services.
5. Districts may offer training as part of new employee training and orientation and may provide additional professional development in suicide risk assessment and crisis intervention to mental health professionals including school counselors, psychologists, social workers, as well as school nurses, and include the requirement for suicide prevention training within school food, school maintenance, and other contractual service providers.
6. All training shall be provided by qualified suicide prevention instructors, as determined by the school or District.

Suicide Intervention
1. Assessment and Referral
  1. Students identified by peers or staff as potentially suicidal shall be seen immediately by members of the School-Based Mental Health Team.
  2. The school-based mental health professionals shall assess the risk and facilitate a referral if necessary and appropriate.
  3. If a student is not in immediate danger but requires services:
    1. The School Team will create a safety plan with the student and connect the student and family to resources.
    2. The School Team will follow up with the student to check in with the student’s progress on accessing the resources and assess how the student is managing.
  4. If the student is in crisis but not in immediate danger:
    1. The school principal and parent/legal guardian shall be contacted.
    2. With the permission of the parent, the school-based mental health professional shall contact Kids Link RI at 1-855-543-5465 to connect the student and family with support services where the student can be enrolled in a same day emergency evaluation or a same week crisis evaluation, based on the student’s need.
    3. The school may also explore after care resources provided by Unite Rhode Island.
  5. If the student is in immediate danger and crisis:
    1. No student in crisis and/or danger may ever be left alone, or without the presence of a school employee.
    2. The student shall be transported to the hospital immediately.
    3. The building administrator and parent/legal guardian shall be contacted immediately.
    4. With the consent of the parent/legal guardian, Kids Link RI may follow up with the student and communicate with the school.
    5. The School-Based Mental Health Team must meet with the student’s family to establish re-entry supports.
    6. The school may also explore after care resources provided by Unite Rhode Island.
  6. Each school shall prominently disseminate the Referral Process to all staff members, parents, guardians, caregivers, and students so that they know how to respond to a crisis and are knowledgeable about the school and community-based resources.
  7. Each school shall display the Referral Process Protocol and Flow Chart located in the Suicide Prevention Initiative Handbook in a conspicuous location where it can be seen by all staff members.
  8. The District’s Superintendent or the Superintendent’s designee shall establish crisis intervention procedures to ensure student safety and appropriate communications if a suicide occurs or an attempt is made by a student or adult on campus, or at a school-sponsored activity or event.

Parental Notification and Involvement
1. Pursuant to the Rhode Island Department of Education, and in accordance with Pierre v. Providence School Board, 2014 WL 2807237 at *8 (R.I. Super. 2014), schools, may require a re-entry letter from a student’s mental health provider, prior to allowing the student to return to school after a mental health examination or related absence.
2. Following a student’s mental-health related absence, parents may be required to provide documentation of care for the student. This shall be determined by each school on a case-by-case basis.
3. Schools shall ensure that in adhering to the preceding provisions, the student’s rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and/or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 shall be acknowledged and respected.

Special Considerations for In-School Suicide Attempts
1. In the event of an in-school suicide attempt, school employees shall adhere to the following:
  1. Remain calm, and move all other students out of the immediate area;
  2. Contact the school administrator or designee;
  3. Call 911 and provide as much information as possible, e.g., a suicide note, medications taken, and access to weapons, if applicable;
  4. If necessary, provide medical first aid until a medical professional is available;
  5. Contact the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) as soon as possible.
  6. Remain with the student and provide comfort, listen, and prompt the student to talk;
  7. Be comfortable with moments of silence; and
  8. Promise privacy and help, but do not promise confidentiality.
2. Note: students should only be released to parent(s)/legal guardian(s) or to a person who is qualified and trained to provide help.

Special Considerations for Out of School Suicide Attempts
1. In the event of an Out of School Suicide Attempt, the school shall adhere to the following:
  1. Protect the privacy of the student;
  2. Contact the parent(s)/legal guardian(s) and offer support to the family;
  3. Discuss how the student/family would like the school to respond to the attempt to minimize misinformation and rumors;
  4. Obtain permission from the parents/guardians to share information to ensure the facts regarding the crisis are accurate;
  5. Designate a staff member to handle media requests;
  6. Provide care and determine appropriate support to affected students; and
  7. Discuss steps for re-entry.
2. Each school shall maintain a confidential record of any actions taken to intervene, support, and protect the student.

Suicide Postvention

Suicide Postvention
1. The District shall develop a Postvention Response Plan that includes:
  1. Identification of a media spokesperson for the District;
  2. Process to notify all staff members;
  3. Provision of emotional support and resources to staff;
  4. Communication to students about suicide death and the availability of support services;
  5. Preparing staff to respond to needs of students, including a review of protocols for referring students for support/assessment;
  6. Identifying which platforms students are using to respond to suicide death;
  7. Identifying and training staff and students to monitor social media outlets; and
  8. Including long-term suicide postvention responses such as the anniversary of the death, birthday, school-based milestone events of students who succumb to suicide.
2. Postvention shall also include counseling or other care given to students after another student’s suicide, including counseling to students that have made a suicide attempt or have reported suicide ideation and regular check-ins, as determined by a mental health professional. Schools may delineate the roles and responsibilities of people on the school crisis team for postvention.