School response checklist: Responding to a suicide by a student Section identification for referencing guidelines This school response checklist highlights the short term and longer term responses to a student’s suicide. Schools follow clear protocols when managing emergency and critical incidents; this checklist is a supporting document. A copy of the Guidelines to assist in responding to suicidal ideation, attempted suicide, or suicide by a student is available at http:// Section A: Immediate IF THE INCIDENT HAPPENS AT IN ALL CASES: response SCHOOL: support ensure no one is in immediate danger report the incident to DEECD Security Services Unit on administer First Aid (03) phone 000 9589 6266 supervise affected students and move them away from contact your Regional Office Emergency Management the Coordinator area ensure parents, guardians, next of kin, staff, students and quarantine the site until police arrive the broader school community have immediate IF THE INCIDENT HAPPENS OUTSIDE SCHOOL: assistance establish the facts with the parents/carers and the for emotional distress local police document the incident and all actions undertaken never leave affected students or staff alone, provide Section B: In the first 24 hours INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM TO: PRINCIPAL TO: appoint person/s to be responsible for liaising contact parents/carers to ask if they need assistance with students, school community, parents/carers, convene an Incident Management Team (IMT) police, mental health professions and other third inform staff of the suicide or attempted suicide and the parties support available to them, including free counselling appoint person/s to be responsible for in-and-outgoing from communication (e.g. sympathy cards, media interest) Employee Assistance Program (EAP) identify and plan support for students (or staff) who are explain the immediate plans for the school to manage at risk or vulnerable the draft information to be provided to students, staff and situation the school community provide staff (including bus drivers, sports coaches, identify school staff for students to approach for canteen staff) with information on how to manage additional assistance and support if necessary discussions with, or offer support to, students display important information about roles and protocols inform students of the suicide in the staff room inform the wider school community of the suicide as appropriate consider flexible timetable scheduling of classes and meetings consider the influence of social media sites
School response checklist: Responding to a suicide by a student Section identification for referencing guidelines This school response checklist highlights the short term and longer term responses to a student’s suicide. Schools follow clear protocols when managing emergency and critical incidents; this checklist is a supporting document. A copy of the Guidelines to assist in responding to suicidal ideation, attempted suicide, or suicide by a student is available at http:// IF THE INCIDENT HAPPENS AT SCHOOL: Section A: Immediate response IN ALL CASES: ensure no one is in immediate danger administer First Aid phone 000 supervise affected students and move them away from the area quarantine the site until police arrive IF THE INCIDENT HAPPENS OUTSIDE SCHOOL: establish the facts with the parents/carers and the local police never leave affected students or staff alone, provide support report the incident to DEECD Security Services Unit on (03) 9589 6266 contact your Regional Office Emergency Management Coordinator ensure parents, guardians, next of kin, staff, students and the broader school community have immediate assistance for emotional distress document the incident and all actions undertaken Section B: In the first 24 hours PRINCIPAL TO: contact parents/carers to ask if they need assistance convene an Incident Management Team (IMT) inform staff of the suicide or attempted suicide and the support available to them, including free counselling from Employee Assistance Program (EAP) explain the immediate plans for the school to manage the situation provide staff (including bus drivers, sports coaches, canteen staff) with information on how to manage discussions with, or offer support to, students inform students of the suicide inform the wider school community of the suicide as appropriate consider flexible timetable scheduling of classes and meetings consider the influence of social media sites INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM TO: appoint person/s to be responsible for liaising with students, school community, parents/carers, police, mental health professions and other third parties appoint person/s to be responsible for in-and-outgoing communication (e.g. sympathy cards, media interest) identify and plan support for students (or staff) who are at risk or vulnerable draft information to be provided to students, staff and the school community identify school staff for students to approach for additional assistance and support if necessary display important information about roles and protocols in the staff room
suicideguidelines.docx