File:  JHH

 

SUICIDE PREVENTION

 

            The Buena Vista City school division is committed to protecting its students from the risk of suicide.

 

Duties of Teachers and Administrative Staff

 

            Any licensed instructional or administrative staff member who has reason to believe that a student is at imminent risk of suicide, based on a direct communication from that student occurring within the staff member’s scope of employment, shall promptly report this matter to a qualified professional identified below, while keeping the student safe.

 

Qualified Professional

 

            The following licensed professionals are designated to assess suicide risks in students under this policy.   ENDERLY HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY – 261-6151 – PATSY HARTLESS, GUIDANCE COUNSELOR, JULI GIBSON, DIVISION PSYCHOLOGIST – 261-2887; F.W. KLING ELEMENTARY 261-6717 – PATSY HARTLESS, GUIDANCE COUNSELOR – JULI GIBSON, DIVISION PSYCHOLOGIST 261-2887; PARRY MCCLUER MIDDLE SCHOOL – 261-7340 – LAURIE ARMSTRONG, GUIDANCE COUNSELOR, JULI GIBSON, DIVISION PSYCHOLOGIST 261-2887; PARRY MCCLUER HIGH SCHOOL – 261-2127 – GERRI PRYOR, DIRECTOR OF GUIDANCE, MARK WHEELER, GUIDANCE COUNSELOR, JULI GIBSON, DIVISION PSYCHOLOGIST 261-2887

 

Duties of the Qualified Professional

 

            The qualified professional shall promptly meet with the student to determine whether the student is at imminent risk of suicide.

 

Abuse and Neglect 

If a student is determined to be at imminent risk of suicide and has indicated that the reason for this risk relates to parental abuse or neglect, the qualified professional shall not contact the parent/guardian.  Instead, the qualified professional shall immediately report the alleged abuse in accordance with school board policy JHG.  The qualified professional needs to emphasize that immediate action is necessary to protect the student from harm.

 

Contacting the Parent/Guardian

If a student is determined to be at imminent risk of suicide, and if the above section titled “Abuse and Neglect” does not apply, then the qualified professional shall immediately call at least one of the student’s parents/guardians.  When contacting a parent/guardian, the qualified professional should:

 

            1.         Provide his/her name and position in the school;

 

            2.         Tell the parent/guardian that in his/her professional judgment, the student is at imminent risk of suicide;

 

            3.         Assure the parent/guardian that the student is currently safe;

 

            4.         State the legal requirement for the call, citing § 22.1-272.1 of the Code of Virginia;

 

5.                  Ask the parent/guardian whether he or she is aware of the student’s mental state;

 

6.         Ask the parent/guardian whether he or she wishes to obtain or has obtained mental counseling for the student;

 

7.         Provide names of community counseling resources if appropriate and offer to facilitate the referral; and

 

8.         Determine the parent’s intent to seek appropriate services for the student.

 

Inability to Reach Parent/Guardian

 

If the qualified professional is unable to make contact with the parent/guardian by the end of the school day, then the professional shall seek treatment for a student without the parent’s/guardian’s authorization in accordance with local school board policy.

 

Additional Concerns 

If parental/guardian contact is made and, in the course of this contact, relevant issues of abuse or neglect are discovered (e.g., a parent acknowledges the child’s suicidal intent but indicates no intent to act for the well-being of the child), the qualified professional shall report the abuse or neglect in accordance with policy JHG.

 

Duty to Keep Student Safe and Secure

A student who is at imminent risk of suicide shall remain under qualified supervision until a parent/guardian or other authorized individual accepts responsibility for the student’s safety.

 

Follow-up

            After a student has been identified or determined to be at imminent risk of suicide, the qualified professional shall make appropriate follow-up contact to ascertain the current status of the student and facilitate any in-school support that may be required.

 

Required Documentation

            The qualified professional shall document the phone call to the parent/guardian by recording the: (a) time and date of the call; (b) parent/guardian response; (c) response plan agreed upon; and (d) anticipated follow-up.

 

 

Adopted: 04/26/04; 08/24/06

 

 

 

Legal Refs:           Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, §§ 22.1-272.1 and 63.2-1509.

 

                                Va. Board of Education “Suicide Prevention Guidelines,” October 1999.

 

Cross Refs:           JHG        Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting

EB           School Crisis, Emergency Management, and Medical Emergency Response Plan

 

 

 

© 6/06 VSBA