NCJ Number
147074
Date Published
1991
Length
84 pages
Annotation
The At-Risk Youth in Crisis Handbook Series is designed to promote interagency agreement on procedures for schools to follow in managing crisis situations with at-risk students; this volume focuses on youth suicide.
Abstract
The volume raises key points about suicide, such as warning signs, the importance of communicating with students at risk for suicide, and risk assessment. Information is provided on the prevalence of youth suicide, suicide motives, myths about suicide, and the vocabulary of suicide. Procedures to guide schools in dealing with suicidal youth are described that cover behavioral, verbal, situational, and psychological (depressive) symptoms. Key helping skills are identified, as well as steps in responding to suicidal youths (referral to school resources, informal risk assessment, team decisionmaking, followup, documentation, responding to suicidal threats after school hours, crisis planning, information sharing, and teaching alternatives to suicide). The need for suicide prevention training is stressed, and components of a comprehensive training plan are identified. Legal requirements of schools in responding to suicidal youths are discussed, with examples given of school prevention programs and community resources available in Oregon. 38 references and 22 footnotes