4 Emergency Response - Santa Cruz County Office of Education

Emergency Response
Types of Emergencies:
Suicide Threat or Suicide Attempt—Response
If a Student Completes Suicide
The loss of a student is a tragic event that will impact a number of students and staff at
a school. Compassion, sensitivity and discretion are called for when deciding how to
provide a supportive response to students, staff, and parents.
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Convene your school crisis recovery team and plan how to support
your school
Do NOT release personal information about the student or state that
the student completed suicide
Contact the District Crisis Recovery Team for support and to plan
information to release to parents
Contact the District or County Office for assistance in developing
information to release to parents, students, and possibly the
community
Consider discussing with a student’s parents what information should
be released about the student who has died
Preventing Contagion at a School
Suicide threats and attempts, or a completed suicide may strongly impact other
students. If a student is suicidal, try to determine if other students may be impacted.
If a student has completed suicide, try to identify those who had close relationships
with the student to check their needs for support and to ensure they are not
contemplating suicide.
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If indicated, offer counseling services to students who had close
relationships with the student who completed suicide, or other
students who have expressed suicidal thoughts
Instruct staff to be aware of warning signs in other students
Let staff know who to contact if they are concerned about students
Em e r g e n c y Re s p o n s e & Crisis Ma n a g e m e n t 4.38 2007 – 2008