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Suicide Prevention Information and Student IDs
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During the 2018-19 school year, all Turlock Unified School District certificated teachers and administrators were trained in Question, Persuade, Respond (QPR) which is a prevention/intervention program for students and staff. Also, as announced during the training as of July 1, 2019, student ID cards will be required to include suicide prevention information.
SENATE BILL NO.972 In response to passage of Senate Bill 972 and the addendum to California Education Code section 215.5, California Public Schools, charter, and private schools that serve pupils in grades 7 to 12, and higher education institutions, are required to include suicide hotline numbers, and the Crisis Text Line number on one or other side of the student identification cards.
In TUSD, the new ID cards will include:
- The telephone number for the National Suicide Prevention Hotline, 1-800-273-8255.
- Crisis Text Line which can be accessed by texting RENEW to 741741
The bill requires schools and public or private institutions to issue new cards commencing July 1, 2019.
TUSD Board Policy
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BP 5141.52
Turlock USD | BP 5141.52 Students
Suicide Prevention
The Board of Trustees recognizes that suicide is a leading cause of death among youth and that school personnel who regularly interact with students are often in a position to recognize the warning signs of suicide and to offer appropriate referral and/or assistance. In an effort to reduce suicidal behavior and its impact on students and families, the Superintendent or designee shall develop measures and strategies for suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention.
In developing measures and strategies for use by the district, the Superintendent or designee may consult with school health professionals, school counselors, school psychologists, school social workers, administrators, other staff, parents/guardians, students, suicide prevention experts, local health agencies, mental health professionals, and community organizations.
(cf. 1220 - Citizen Advisory Committees)
(cf. 1400 - Relations Between Other Governmental Agencies and the Schools)
Such measures and strategies shall include, but are not limited to:
1. Staff development on suicide awareness and prevention for teachers, school counselors, and other district employees who interact with students
(cf. 4131 - Staff Development)
(cf. 4231 - Staff Development)
(cf. 4331 - Staff Development)
2. Instruction to students in problem-solving and coping skills to promote students' mental, emotional, and social health and well-being, as well as instruction in recognizing and appropriately responding to warning signs of suicidal intent in others
(cf. 6142.8 - Comprehensive Health Education)
3. Methods for promoting a positive school climate that enhances students' feelings of connectedness with the school and that is characterized by caring staff and harmonious interrelationships among students
(cf. 5131 - Conduct)
(cf. 5131.2 - Bullying)
(cf. 5137 - Positive School Climate)
(cf. 5145.3 - Nondiscrimination/Harassment)
(cf. 5145.7 - Sexual Harassment)
(cf. 5145.9 - Hate-Motivated Behavior)
4. The provision of information to parents/guardians regarding risk factors and warning signs of suicide, the severity of the suicide problem among youth, the district's suicide prevention curriculum, basic steps for helping suicidal youth, and/or school and community resources that can help youth in crisis
5. Encouragement for students to notify appropriate school personnel or other adults when they are experiencing thoughts of suicide or when they suspect or have knowledge of another student's suicidal intentions
6. Crisis intervention procedures for addressing suicide threats or attempts
7. Counseling and other postvention strategies for helping students, staff, and others cope in the aftermath of a student's suicide
As appropriate, these measures and strategies shall specifically address the needs of students who are at high risk of suicide, including, but not limited to, students who are bereaved by suicide; students with disabilities, mental illness, or substance use disorders; students who are experiencing homelessness or who are in out-of-home settings such as foster care; and students who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning youth. (Education Code 215)
The Board shall review, and update as necessary, this policy at least every five years. (Education Code 215)
Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
215 Student suicide prevention policies
215.5 Suicide prevention hotline contact information on student identification cards
216 Suicide prevention online training programs
32280-32289 Comprehensive safety plan
49060-49079 Student records
49602 Confidentiality of student information
49604 Suicide prevention training for school counselors
GOVERNMENT CODE
810-996.6 Government Claims Act
PENAL CODE
11164-11174.3 Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act
WELFARE AND INSTITUTIONS CODE
5698 Emotionally disturbed youth; legislative intent
5850-5883 Children's Mental Health Services Act
COURT DECISIONS
Corales v. Bennett (Ontario-Montclair School District), (2009) 567 F.3d 554
Management Resources:
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PUBLICATIONS
Health Education Content Standards for California Public Schools, Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve, 2008
Health Framework for California Public Schools, Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve, 2003
CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION PUBLICATIONS
School Connectedness: Strategies for Increasing Protective Factors Among Youth, 2009
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS PUBLICATIONS
Preventing Suicide: Guidelines for Administrators and Crisis Teams, 2015
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES PUBLICATIONS
National Strategy for Suicide Prevention: Goals and Objectives for Action, rev. 2012
Preventing Suicide: A Toolkit for High Schools, 2012
WEBSITES
American Association of Suicidology: http://www.suicidology.org
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: https://afsp.org
American Psychological Association: http://www.apa.org
American School Counselor Association: https://www.schoolcounselor.org
California Department of Education, Mental Health: http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/cg/mh
California Department of Health Care Services, Suicide Prevention Program: http://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/MH/Pages/SuicidePrevention.aspx
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mental Health: http://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth
National Association of School Psychologists: https://www.nasponline.org
National Institute for Mental Health: http://www.nimh.nih.gov
Trevor Project: http://thetrevorproject.org
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: http://www.samhsa.gov
Policy TURLOCK UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
adopted: January 22, 2019 Turlock, California
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AR 5141.52
Student identification cards shall include the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline telephone number and may also include the Crisis Text Line and/or a local suicide prevention hotline telephone number. (Education Code 215.5)
Staff Development
Suicide prevention training shall be provided to teachers, counselors, and other district employees who interact with students. The training shall be offered under the direction of a district counselor/psychologist and/or in cooperation with one or more community mental health agencies.
(cf. 4131 - Staff Development)
(cf. 4231 - Staff Development)
(cf. 4331 - Staff Development)
Materials for training shall include how to identify appropriate mental health services at the school site and within the community, and when and how to refer youth and their families to those services. Materials also may include programs that can be completed through self-review of suitable suicide prevention materials. (Education Code 215)
Staff development shall include research and information related to the following topics:
1. The higher risk of suicide among certain groups, including, but not limited to, students who are bereaved by suicide; students with disabilities, mental illness, or substance use disorders; students who are experiencing homelessness or who are in out-of-home settings such as foster care; and students who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning youth
2. Individual risk factors such as previous suicide attempt(s) or self-harm, history of depression or mental illness, family history of suicide or violence, feelings of isolation, interpersonal conflicts, a recent severe stressor or loss, family instability, impulsivity, and other factors
(cf. 5131.6 - Alcohol and Other Drugs)
3. Warning signs that may indicate depression, emotional distress, or suicidal intentions, such as changes in students' personality or behavior and verbalizations of hopelessness or suicidal intent
4. Protective factors that may help to decrease a student's suicide risk, such as resiliency, problem-solving ability, access to mental health care, and positive connections to family, peers, school, and community
5. Instructional strategies for teaching the suicide prevention curriculum and promoting mental and emotional health
6. School and community resources and services, including resources and services that meet the specific needs of high-risk groups
(cf. 5141.6 - School Health Services)
(cf. 6164.2 - Guidance/Counseling Services)
7. Appropriate ways to interact with a student who is demonstrating emotional distress or is suicidal and procedures for intervening when a student attempts, threatens, or discloses the desire to die by suicide, including, but not limited to, appropriate protocols for monitoring the student while the immediate referral of the student to medical or mental health services is being processed
8. District procedures for responding after a suicide has occurred
Instruction
The district's comprehensive health education program shall promote the healthy mental, emotional, and social development of students and shall be aligned with the state content standards and curriculum framework. Suicide prevention instruction shall be incorporated into the health education curriculum at appropriate secondary grades and shall be designed to help students:
1. Identify and analyze signs of depression and self-destructive behaviors and understand how feelings of depression, loss, isolation, inadequacy, and anxiety can lead to thoughts of suicide
2. Develop coping and resiliency skills and self-esteem
3. Learn to listen, be honest, share feelings, and get help when communicating with friends who show signs of suicidal intent
4. Identify trusted adults, school resources, and/or community crisis intervention resources where youth can get help and recognize that there is no stigma associated with seeking services for mental health, substance abuse, and/or suicide prevention
(cf. 5131.6 - Alcohol and Other Drugs)
(cf. 5141.6 - School Health Services)
(cf. 6142.8 - Comprehensive Health Education)
(cf. 6164.2 - Guidance/Counseling Services)
Intervention
Students shall be encouraged to notify a teacher, principal, counselor, or other adult when they are experiencing thoughts of suicide or when they suspect or have knowledge of another student's suicidal intentions.
Every statement regarding suicidal intent shall be taken seriously. Whenever a staff member suspects or has knowledge of a student's suicidal intentions based on the student's verbalizations or act of self-harm, the staff member shall promptly notify the principal or school counselor, who shall implement district intervention protocols as appropriate
Although any personal information that a student discloses to a school counselor shall generally not be revealed, released, referenced, or discussed with third parties, the counselor may report to the principal or student's parents/guardians when there is reasonable cause to believe that disclosure is necessary to avert a clear and present danger to the health, safety, or welfare of the student or others within the school community. In addition, the counselor may disclose information of a personal nature to psychotherapists, other health care providers, or the school nurse for the sole purpose of referring the student for treatment. (Education Code 49602)
(cf. 5141 - Health Care and Emergencies)
School employees shall act only within the authorization and scope of their credential or license. An employee is not authorized to diagnose or treat mental illness unless specifically licensed and employed to do so. (Education Code 215)
Whenever schools establish a peer counseling system to provide support for students, peer counselors shall receive training that includes identification of the warning signs of suicidal behavior and referral of a suicidal student to appropriate adults.
(cf. 5138 - Conflict Resolution/Peer Mediation)
When a suicide attempt or threat is reported, the principal or designee shall ensure student safety by taking the following actions:
1. Immediately securing medical treatment and/or mental health services as necessary
2. Notifying law enforcement and/or other emergency assistance if a suicidal act is being actively threatened
3. Keeping the student under continuous adult supervision until the parent/guardian and/or appropriate support agent or agency can be contacted and has the opportunity to intervene
4. Removing other students from the immediate area as soon as possible
(cf. 0450 - Comprehensive Safety Plan)
(cf. 5141 - Health Care and Emergencies)
The principal or designee shall document the incident in writing, including the steps that the school took in response to the suicide attempt or threat.
(cf. 5125 - Student Records)
The Superintendent or designee shall follow up with the parent/guardian and student in a timely manner to provide referrals to appropriate services as needed. If the parent/guardian does not access treatment for the student, the Superintendent or designee may meet with the parent/guardian to identify barriers to treatment and assist the family in providing follow-up care for the student. If follow-up care is still not provided, the Superintendent or designee shall consider whether it is necessary, pursuant to laws for mandated reporters of child neglect, to refer the matter to the local child protective services agency.
(cf. 5141.4 - Child Abuse Prevention and Reporting)
For any student returning to school after a mental health crisis, the principal or designee and/or school counselor may meet with the parents/guardians and, if appropriate, with the student to discuss re-entry and appropriate next steps to ensure the student's readiness for return to school and determine the need for ongoing support.
Postvention
In the event that a student dies by suicide, the Superintendent or designee shall communicate with the student's parents/guardians to offer condolences, assistance, and resources. In accordance with the laws governing confidentiality of student record information, the Superintendent or designee shall consult with the parents/guardians regarding facts that may be divulged to other students, parents/guardians, and staff.
The Superintendent or designee shall implement procedures to address students' and staff's grief and to minimize the risk of imitative suicide or suicide contagion. The Superintendent or designee shall provide students, parents/guardians, and staff with information, counseling, and/or referrals to community agencies as needed. School staff may receive assistance from school counselors or other mental health professionals in determining how best to discuss the suicide or attempted suicide with students.
Any response to media inquiries shall be handled by the district-designated spokesperson who shall not divulge confidential information. The district's response shall not sensationalize suicide and shall focus on the district's postvention plan and available resources.
(cf. 1112- Media Relations)
After any suicide or attempted suicide by a student, the Superintendent or designee shall provide an opportunity for all staff who responded to the incident to debrief, evaluate the effectiveness of the strategies used, and make recommendations for future actions.
Regulation TURLOCK UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
approved: January 22, 2019 Turlock, California
Mayo Clinic Teen Suicide Prevention
Turlock High School
Pitman High School
Roselawn Continuation High School
Regional Suicide Prevention and Crisis Services
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For help with a mental health or life-threatening emergency, call 911. If you are feeling suicidal (or if you are concerned about someone), there is help available right now:
Stanislaus County Community Services Response Team
- Access Line: (209) 558-4600
- Available 24 Hours, 7 Days a Week
- Spanish Language Capabilities
- Call to access services or request a psychiatric evaluation.
Stanislaus County Warm Line
- (209) 558-4600
- 24 Hours a day, 7 days a Week
- On-site Peer Support and Warm Line Services are offered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Stanislaus County residents can call the warm line when they are:
- Having a hard time making it through the day – but are not in crisis
- Needing a caring listener to provide effective feedback to help explore options
- Wants some support, assistance and resources toward recovery
- This is a mental health consumer-run program providing non-crisis intervention, offering peer support, referrals, and shared experience of hope and recovery
Crisis Text Line
- Text "Home" to 741741 to reach a crisis counselor when you are feeling depressed, sad, or going through any kind of emotional crisis and a crisis worker will text you back immediately. Many people, including teens, prefer text to talking on the phone. It's a free service for anyone--teens, adults, etc. who live in the U.S.
Regional Suicide Prevention and Crisis Services
- 1-800-273-TALK
- 1-800-SUICIDE
- (530) 885 -2300