Suicide Prevention
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As an educator, we know you often identify students in your classroom who, for one reason or another seem vulnerable or at risk. But how do you know if what you're seeing is part of the normal ups and downs of adolescence or something more severe? When you observe changes in a student's behavior, pay attention. If the changes concern you, talk with the student if you're comfortable doing so. Feel free to consult your school's resources staff about your observations. Your role in youth suicide prevention is critical - staff who have been educated and have an awareness of youth suicide are a school's greatest resource!”
Senate Bill 52:
IMESD Suicide Prevention Policy and Plan:
- School Based Suicide Resource Guide (schools are not required to use this template; it is a sample and may be edited for individual school use if desired)
Local School District Suicide Prevention Policies/Plans:
Books and Magazines:
Articles and Brochures:
- Talking about Suicide & LGBT Populations
- The Role of High School Mental Health Providers in Preventing Suicide
- The Role of High School Teachers in Preventing Suicide
- Suicide Awareness in Elementary School
- Trauma Informed Return to School for Elementary Students and Staff
- What Every Teacher Should Know about Preventing Youth Suicide
- Suicide Screening and Assessment
Student Materials:
Digital Wallet Cards:
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
- YouthLine - (Resources)
Teaching Materials:
- Sandyhookpromise - free materials and programs addressing suicide, gun violence, social media, and isolation
Training:
- QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer)
- ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training)
- CALM - Counseling on Access to Lethal Means
After a crisis
To assist schools in regaining stability after a crisis, school administrators can request Crisis Response Team support through IMESD. The Crisis Response Team will support students and staff that are experiencing loss, grief, or trauma in the wake of a crisis. Go to Crisis Response or click on the following links for more information.
- IMESD Crisis Response Team Flow Chart- for the district point person
- IMESD Crisis Response Team webpage - general information regarding crisis response
- School Based Suicide Resource Guide (schools are not required to use this template; it is a sample and may be edited for individual school use if desired)
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"One of the more difficult challenges of parenting is realizing that you don't always know what your children are thinking and feeling. Feelings can be difficult subjects to discuss under the best of circumstances, so how in the world do you ask about feelings related to suicide? The first step is to learn about the factors that can put a teen at risk for suicide. There are lots of sites that list risk factors; spend some time reading them - the more you know, the better you'll be prepared for understanding what can put your child at risk". (The Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide)
For additional information or to find out where you can get help, click on the following links.
Publications:
- Worried About Suicide? Learn the FACTS!
- 12 Examples Validating Statements to Foster Empathy
- Postcards for Parents: The Toolkit
Screening/provider search:
- How to find a therapist (USA Today article)
- If you have private insurance, click Psychology Today to find mental health professionals near you.
- To search for Mental Health treatment centers by zip code, click on The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) Behavioral Health Treatment Services locator
Media:
- Helpful Apps:
- Common Sense Media - age-based media reviews for families
- Protect Young Eyes - internet safety for families, schools, and churches
- NetSmartz - age-appropriate resources to help teach children how to be safer on and offline (created by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children)
Training:
- CALM - Counseling on Access to Lethal Means. For more information and to register for a free 2-hour self-paced online training, click here
Support:
- Reach Out Oregon - a resource for parents caring for a child experiencing emotional, behavioral, and mental challenges Warmline 1-833-REACH-OR (T,W,TH 12-7pm)
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In order to provide additional support for your school's staff and students, the InterMountain Education Service District has partnered with Lines for Life and YouthLine to provide support, outreach, lessons, materials, and training.
Suicide Prevention is everyone's business
In partnership with Lines for Life and the Oregon Youthline, the InterMountain Education Service District provides an easy-to-use guide for suicide prevention. This guide will help you create a comprehensive approach to Suicide Prevention in your school. Schedule a time for the IMESD's Suicide Prevention Consultant to bring you a hard copy and discuss with you the many resources that are available. For an online version, visit the Oregon Youthline website.
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Local Counties
State Organizations
National Organizations
Baker
Morrow
Union
Umatilla
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"Suicidal thoughts or feelings can make us feel frightened or overwhelmed. We can feel crazy or worried we're going crazy or may be embarrassed to share what we're thinking with others. Or maybe we've tried to talk about it and were dismissed ("Come on, you don't really feel that way!"), or made fun of ("There you go again, you wimpy cry-baby!"), or not taken seriously ("You're always talking about that - one of these days maybe you'll do it"). Perhaps the people we talked to didn't know what to say so they just ignored us and said nothing. Just because we couldn't find someone who listened in a helpful way, though, doesn't mean we should give up! Talking about suicidal thoughts and feelings - with the right person - can make all the difference in the world. (The Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide - www. wptsusa.org/teens/)
If you don't know an adult who would be helpful, please contact the Oregon YouthLine or 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline:
Oregon Youthline - 7 days a week from 4-10pm PST (adults are available by phone at all other times!)
call: 1-877-968-8491
text: "teen2teen" to 839863
chat: www.oregonyouthline.org
988 Lifeline Chat and Text - Online 24/7/365
call: 988
text: 988
chat: 988lifeline
If you are concerned about a friend, click on the following:
Youth Suicide Warning Signs
Students can anonymously report or share confidential information of a threat or a potential threat to student safety by contacting the Oregon School Safety Tipline
We can ALL prevent suicide.
According to the National Association of School Psychologists, suicide is the second leading cause of death among school-age youth. However, suicide is preventable. Youth who are contemplating suicide frequently give warning signs of their distress. Parents, teachers, and friends are in a key position to pick up on these signs and get help. Most important is to never take these warning signs lightly or promise to keep them secret. When all adults and students in a school community are committed to making suicide prevention a priority - and are empowered to take the correct actions - we can help youth before they engage in behavior with irreversible consequences.
Did you know...?
- Suicide is the leading cause of death for ages 10-24
- More teenagers and young adults die from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, influenza, and chronic lung disease, COMBINED
- Each day in our nation, there is an average of over 5,240 attempts by young people grades 7-12
- Four out of five teens who attempt suicide have given clear warning signs
The InterMountain ESD, in partnership with Lines for Life and local mental health agencies, provides support to 20 school districts in the Baker, Morrow, Union, and Umatilla counties. As part of our suicide prevention program we:
- Provide a Step By Step guide to help you create a comprehensive approach in your school.
- Have partnered with Oregon Youthline - a peer-to-peer support and crisis line - managed by Lines for Life, a nonprofit organization that helps prevent substance abuse and suicide.
- Offer free "gatekeeper" training to schools such as QPR (Question, Refer, Persuade) - a 2-hour evidence-based educational program designed to teach the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to respond.
- Coordinate additional suicide prevention workshops such as ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) a two-day training for those who want to learn a more in-depth approach.
- Provide updated protocols, procedures, and forms - such as a School-Based Suicide Resource Guide, Suicide Risk Assessment - Level 1, and a Student Coping Plan with local and national crisis line phone numbers.