Guidelines to assist in responding to attempted suicide or suicide by ...

Section A:Immediate ResponseIf the attempted suicide, or suicide, takes place atschool, ensure the immediate safety of communitymembers• ensure no one is in immediate danger• administer First Aid as necessary (avoid contact with blood or other body fluidsby using protective gloves)• call emergency services for medical advice, ambulance/police support: Phone 000• report incident to DEECD Security Services Unit (SSU): Phone 9589 6266.Provide the following information:Who? The number and name of persons involvedName of the person reporting the incidentWhat? The nature of the incidentWhen? The time when the reporting person became aware of the incidentWhere? The location of the incident and contact phone numbers• move witnesses to pre-established safe locations. They must be supported andsupervised by staff/counsellors until police have taken statements or advised otheractions.• isolate the site from student or unauthorised staff access by using screens andblocking corridors etc. Do everything possible to protect others from viewing the sitewithout disturbing the area that the police will need to inspect. Do not remove ordisturb items from the site until police have concluded their work and advised thatthe area is no longer a secured area. In the case of a suicide the police will arrangefor the body to be taken to the mortuary.• depending on the means of the attempted or completed suicide, consider makingchanges to the environment or access to materials.• if the student has attempted suicide but is physically unharmed, it is important that arisk assessment is undertaken by an experienced mental health practitioner. Contactthe local Hospital Emergency Department or a local mental health agency for advice.If the attempted suicide, or suicide, takes placeoutside school, find out the facts• do not ignore student, parent or staff “rumours” about suicide. Do not ignoresuicide notes/e-mails/messages sent to staff by students. Follow up both thesesituations immediately.• if, after following up on notes or rumours, a student is found safe in the school,organise a school welfare staff member or a counsellor to meet with them straightaway to assess their wellbeing and the background to the suicide concern. In mostcases it will be essential to share this information with the student’s parents and referthe young person to a mental health provider if one is not already involved.• if the student cannot be located at school, make contact with the familyimmediately. If the parents are unaware of the student’s whereabouts andsafety, contact the police.• suicide reports made by people other than direct family members should beverified through the police, hospital staff or, with extreme sensitivity, the family.Guidelines to assist in responding to attempted suicide or suicide by a student13