CHAPTER 3.00 - SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION

3.062 Suicide Prevention

I. This policy covers actions that take place in the school, on school property, at school-sponsored functions and activities, on school buses or vehicles or at bus stops, and at school-sponsored out-of-school events where school staff are present. This policy applies to the entire school community. The School Board is committed to protecting the health, safety and welfare of its students and school community. The Board recognizes that suicide is one of the leading causes of death for Florida’s youth. It is critical for families and community members to communicate with and provide information to school staff to identify students at risk of suicide.

II. The Board directs all school district staff members to be alert to a student who exhibits warning signs of self-harm or who threatens or attempts suicide. Any such warning signs or the report of such warning signs from another student or staff member shall be taken with the utmost seriousness and reported immediately to

the Principal or designee.

III. The Superintendent shall develop procedures to ensure that this policy is carried out in each of the District schools. The Superintendent will prepare and disseminate guidelines to assist school district staff members in recognizing the warning signs of a student who may be contemplating suicide, to respond to a threat or attempted suicide. The Superintendent will develop an intervention plan for in-school suicide attempts, out of school suicide attempts and an appropriate

re-entry process, including a re-entry meeting to discuss the development of a safety plan and additional interventions or supports.

IV. Professional development training in youth suicide prevention opportunities shall may be provided to student personnel services staff, administration and instructional staff. A two (2) hour continuing education program of youth suicide

awareness and prevention training, utilizing training materials from the list approved by the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) is also available for all district staff in all job categories as well as other adults on campus who regularly

interact with students or are in a position to recognize the risk factors and warning signs of suicide. Instruction about how to identify appropriate mental health services and how to refer youth and their families to those services should be

included in the program. If all instructional personnel at a District school participate in the two (2) hour training, the school will be considered a “Suicide Prevention Certified School”.

V. Florida Statute 1003.42 required instruction of 5 hours of mental health instruction for grades 6-12 will be implemented annually through developmentally appropriate instruction and skill building and will address, at a minimum, the following topics:

(a) Recognition of signs and symptoms of mental health disorders;

(b) Prevention of mental health disorders;

(c) Mental health awareness and assistance;

(d) How to reduce the stigma around mental health disorders;

(e) Awareness of resources, including local school and community resources;

(f) The process for accessing treatment;

(g) Strategies to develop health coping techniques;

(h) Strategies to support a peer, friend, or family members with a mental health disorder;

(i) Prevention of suicide;

(j) Prevention of the abuse of and addiction to alcohol, nicotine, and drugs.

VI. The Principal or designee shall immediately contact the parent(s) of the student exhibiting warning signs of suicide to inform he parent(s) the student will be referred to a school-based mental health services provider to perform either the

CSSRS or SAFE-T suicide risk assessment prior to determining whether the student requires an involuntary examination (Baker Act).

A. Annually the District and local mobile response teams coordinate with each other on the suicide screening assessment tool to be used to ensure they are using the same screening instrument.

Statutory Authority: 1001.41; 1001.42, F.S.

Laws Implemented: 1003.42, 1012.583, F.S.

STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION RULE(S): 

History:

Adopted: April 13, 2021

Revision Date(s): October 11, 2022

Formerly