Critical Incident Manual - Ministry of Education

Guidelines for Developing a Critical Incident Management Plan for a Safe School EnvironmentIncident: Suicide ThreatPotential OutcomesCarrying out of the suicide threat, that would cause injury or death.Pre-plan Action• Ensure that staff knows that all threats of suicide should be taken seriously.• Ensure that the school community knows the names of the persons qualified in firstaidand CPR.• Create a culture in which positive self-esteem is promoted.• Provide training for staff on recognizing at-risk students, suicide awareness andprevention.• Provide assistance to at-risk students by placing them in special programmes andensuring that they get counselling.• Ensure that the school has an updated list of relevant community services available.Immediate Action• Assess the situation.• Notify the principal immediately.• Treat the threat as credible.• Call the police if the student has a weapon or is in any form of danger.• Activate the CIMT if deemed necessary.• If possible, search the student. Confiscate anything that could cause harm.• Instruct staff that once they have notified the principal, that they should focus onkeeping the student calm.• Call parents or guardians. Inform them of actions taken up to that point.• Do not leave student alone.• If possible, have the student meet with the counsellor. Try to determine the cause ofthe student’s distress.• If a note is found, make it available to the mental-health professionals after havingdated it and noted the time it was found, as well as the location.• If the reasons for the student’s distress have anything to do with physical or sexualabuse, contact the appropriate agencies or authorities.Ministry of Education 2008 / 81