For Teachers and Schools
Training
The Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide offers training for school personnel in response to legislation passed in New Jersey mandating suicide prevention training for staff. Making Educators Partners in Youth Suicide Prevention is a free online course that you can take and earn CEUs. Additional information for administrators is available online at the home page.
The Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide also offers strategies and useful links to help identify students who seem vulnerable or at risk. Please visit their site for tips to understand basic characteristics of suicide, deal with student reactions to the anniversary of peer's death, handle suicide-related curriculum, and talk about the role of your school board in suicide prevention."
Making Educators Partners in Youth Suicide Prevention
PowerPoint presentation and accompanying video clips:
- Lifelines: A School-Based Youth-Suicide Prevention Initiative PPT [8.6 MB]
Brad’s Story Windows Media File [13.5 MB]- Connor’s Story Windows Media File [10 MB]
- Don’s Story Windows Media File [30 MB]
- Don’s Story, Part 2 Windows Media File [4 MB]
- Elena’s Story Windows Media File [16 MB]
- James’s Story Windows Media File [13 MB]
- Scott’s Story Windows Media File [28 MB]
- Scott’s Story, Part 2 Windows Media File [5 MB]
- Stacy’s Story Windows Media File [13 MB]
(click "save" to open document)
Teen Depression and Suicide – Two separate 90 minute presentations. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention partnered with the New York State Office of Mental Health on a film project aimed to educate high school students about depression. Since the majority of suicides are caused by untreated or inadequately treated depression, it is AFSP’s hope that by teaching adolescents to recognize the signs of depression in themselves and others, suicide deaths among teenagers will decrease.
A second film, More Than Sad: A Guide to Preventing Teen Suicide educates teachers and other school personnel about the causes of youth suicide, warning signs and steps they can take to get help for students. Key messages to teachers include paying close attention to any observed behavioral changes in their students, speaking to those students, and referring those who may be suffering from a mental disorder to a nurse or school counselor. The film also encourages teachers to familiarize themselves with their own school’s referral and crisis policies.
Each film is 25-minutes long and is presented to the group with facilitated discussion afterwards. It is highly recommended to schools to have the teachers review prior to presenting to the students. Display of resources and pamphlets is included. Download the presentation slides [PDF, 210 K].
The Jason Foundation also has online training for teachers called "Youth Suicide Awareness and Prevention." Simply go the their link, click, and the training will begin.
PREPaRE: School Crisis Prevention and Intervention Training Curriculum
The PREPaRE curriculum has been developed by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) as part of NASP’s decade-long leadership in providing evidence-based resources and consultation related to school crisis prevention and response. PREPaRE training is ideal for schools committed to improving and strengthening their school crisis management plans and emergency response. It provides training for school personnel in crisis preparation, prevention, intervention, response, and recovery procedures, with a special emphasis on the role of school-based mental health professionals. A list of local trainers is available online.
Youth Suicidal Behavior: Prevention and Intervention for Teacher and Parents by Frank J. Zenere [PDF, 118K]
Frank Zenere is a leading expert in the field of school crisis and safety, as well as suicide postvention. This training covers the risk and protective factors that influence the potential for suicidal behavior; five warning signs that increase the possibility for suicidal behavior; and actions that teachers and parents can take to prevent youth suicide. This information is copyrighted by Dr. Zenere and should not be reproduced without his permission. For more information or to request a presentation, he may be contacted at fzenere@dadeschools.net.
Suicide Postvention in the School Community for Mental Health Professionals by Frank J. Zenere [PDF, 76K]
Suicide Prevention and Self-Injurious Behavior in the School by Frank J. Zenere [PDF, 1MB]
Frank Zenere is a leading expert in the field of school crisis and safety, as well as suicide postvention. This training covers school suicide postvention goals, response protocol, risk identification strategies, key messages for students and parents, how to manage memorial activities, risk factors for imitative suicide, and how to prevent further contagion. This information is copyrighted by Dr. Zenere and should not be reproduced without his permission. For more information or to request a presentation, he may be contacted at fzenere@dadeschools.net.
Understanding and Using Data for Youth Suicide Prevention: a Hands-on, Crash Course for Beginners.
Cathy Barber at the Harvard Injury Control Research Center
June 26, 2008.
Suicide Prevention & Education for Teens
A presentation for teens created and developed by the Caring Tree Program of Big Bend Hospice and Capital City Youth Services.
Programs
The Suicide Prevention Resource Center maintains a Best Practices Registry which contains many programs that might consider implementing in your school. Section I is the evidence based programs (many are school based), Section II contains expert and consensus statements, and Section III contains great programs, practices, and policies that adhere to standards but do not fall into the evidence based section yet. Many of these are great for school settings as well. You can access the Registry at http://www.sprc.org/featured_resources/bpr/index.asp.
Well Aware Campaign
Well Aware TM is a national multi-faceted program to inform education leaders of the link between emotional well-being and academic achievement. It includes a quarterly policy bulletin for school administrators with research-based content and best practices in the national prevention arena that can be utilized in school settings.
The goal of Well Aware? To better engage education leadership in proactively addressing teen suicide rates.
Well Aware Florida is a collaborative effort between the Statewide Office of Suicide Prevention and the Florida Department of Education.
Well Aware Issue 1 Well Aware Issue 2 Well Aware Issue 3
The School-Based Guide
The Florida Mental Health Institute at the University of South Florida has also created a wonderful resource called the Youth Suicide Prevention School-Based Guide which is a tool that provides a framework for schools to assess their existing or proposed suicide prevention efforts (through a series of checklists) and provides resources and information that school administrators can use to enhance or add to their existing program. First, checklists can be completed to help evaluate the adequacy of the schools' suicide prevention programs. Second, information is offered in a series of issue briefs corresponding to a specific checklist. Each brief offers a rationale for the importance of the specific topic together with a brief overview of the key points. The briefs also offer specific strategies that have proven to work in reducing the incidence of suicide, with references that schools may then explore in greater detail. A resource section with helpful links is also included. The guide will help to provide information to schools to assist them in the development of a framework to work in partnership with community resources and families. View the School Guide Overview PDF, 194K.
AAS Accreditation Program
The American Association of Suicidology offers a School Suicide Prevention Accreditation Program for school psychologists, social workers, counselors, nurses, and all others dedicated to or responsible for reducing the incidence of suicide and suicidal behaviors among today's school-age youth.
Crisis Management Protocol Manuals
School-Based Crisis Management Recommendations on Suicide: Prevention, Intervention, and Postvention
Provided by Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE)
The purpose of the is to support schools in strengthening their ability to respond to a crisis within the school setting. The specific focus for this document relates to preventing and responding to a suicide crisis.
The Wisconsin Components of School-Based Suicide Prevention, Intervention and Postvention Model
Provided by Mental Health American of Wisconsin. A guide for schools to use in developing or improving their prevention programs, crisis plans, and response to suicides
Suicide Prevention Resource Center - Resources For School Health and Mental Health Care Providers
Suicide Prevention Resource Center - Resources For Teachers
Economic Crisis Resources
Provided by the National Association of School Psychologists.
NASP and school psychologists across the country are equipped and ready to help in tough economic times. They have developed a series of resources to support students, families and school staff affected by the economic crisis.
Suicide Prevention and Intervention Resources
Provided by the National Association of School Psychologist
NASP is committed to working to prevent the suicide behavior and deaths of children and youth. Schools and school psychologists play a critical role in youth suicide prevention.