San Francisco Unified School District and County Office of Education
Administrative Regulation 5141.52
Suicide Prevention
This Administrative Regulation applies to the San Francisco Unified School District and the County Office of Education.
Staff Development
Suicide prevention training shall be provided to teachers, counselors, and other district employees who interact with students, including:
- Student support staff including School Social Workers, School District Nurses, Community Health Outreach Workers, School Counselors, and School Psychologists will be trained in district student suicide prevention policies and procedures and these policies will be reviewed annually
- K-8 Social Workers and School District Nurses and High School Wellness staff will be trained in suicide assessment annually.
- School Health Programs (SHP) staff, including K-8 School Social Workers and School District Nurses, School Counselors and High School Wellness staff will review the suicide referral considerations with school staff annually.
SFUSD will collaborate with the Department of Public Health and other local agencies, such as San Francisco Suicide Prevention, to provide education, support and mental health resources related to suicide prevention and education. Additionally, CDE shall identify evidence-based online training programs aligned with the requirements of CA Education Code Section 215 that districts can use to train students and staff. (Education Code 216)
(cf. 4131 – Staff Development)
(cf. 4231 – Staff Development)
(cf. 4331 – Staff Development)
Materials for training shall include how to identify appropriate mental health services at the school site and within the community, and when and how to refer youth and their families to those services. Materials also may include programs that can be completed through self-review of suitable suicide prevention materials. (Education Code 215)
Staff development shall include research and information related to the following topics:
- The higher rick of suicide among certain groups, including, but not limited to, students who are bereaved by suicide; students with disabilities, mental illness, or substance use disorders; students who are experiencing homelessness or who are in out-of-home settings such as foster care; and students who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning youth
- Individual risk factors such as previous suicide attempt(s) or self-harm, history of depression or mental illness, family history of suicide or violence, feelings of isolation, interpersonal conflicts, a recent severe stressor or loss, family instability, impulsivity, and other factors
(cf. 5131.6 – Alcohol and Other Drugs)
- Warning signs that may indicate depression, emotional distress, or suicidal intentions, such as changes in students’ personality or behavior and verbalizations of hopelessness or suicidal intent
- Protective factors that may help to decrease a person’s suicide risk, such as resiliency, problem-solving ability, access to mental health care, and positive connections to family, peers, school, and community
- Instructional strategies for teaching the suicide prevention curriculum and promotion mental and emotional health
- School and community resources and services, including resources and services that meet the specific needs of high-risk groups
(cf. 5141.6 – School Health Services)
(cf. 6164.2 – Guidance/Counseling Services)
- District procedures for intervening when a student attempts, threatens, or discloses the desire to die by suicide
The single point of contact for staff to seek support on suicide prevention procedures and policy is Kevin Gogin, MFT, Director of Safety and Wellness, School Health Programs, Student, Family, and Community Support Department.
Instruction
The district’s comprehensive health education program shall promote the healthy mental, emotional, and social development of students and shall be aligned with the state content standards and curriculum framework. Suicide prevention instruction shall be incorporated into the health education curriculum at appropriate secondary grades and shall be designed to help students:
- Identify and analyze signs of depression and self-destructive behaviors and understand how feelings of depression, loss, isolation, inadequacy, and anxiety can lead to thoughts of suicide
- Develop coping and resiliency skills and self-esteem
- Learn to listen, be honest, share feelings, and get help when communicating with friends who show signs of suicidal intent
- Identify trusted adults, school resources, and/or community crisis intervention resources where youth can get help and recognize that there is no stigma associated with seeking services for mental health, substance abuse, and/or suicide prevention
(cf. 1020 – Youth Services)
(cf. 5131.6 – Alcohol and Other Drugs)
(cf. 5141.6 – School Health Services)
(cf. 6142.8 – Comprehensive Health Education)
(cf. 6164.2 – Guidance/Counseling Services)
Students will receive a minimum of 2 class periods addressing stress and suicide prevention within middle school and high school comprehensive health education classes.
Elementary students will receive developmentally appropriate curriculum.
Resources
Students will be provided with support to help them identify trusted adults, school resources, and/or community crisis intervention resources where youth can get help and recognize that there is no stigma associated with seeking services for mental health, substance abuse, and/or suicide prevention. All students will receive information annually regarding site based services provided by Social Workers/School District Nurses, or High School Wellness Programs. Posters advertising Student Support services of either middle grade School Social Workers and School District Nurses or High School Wellness Programs will be displayed.
All students will have access to emergency numbers with resources, referrals, and hot-line numbers in multiple languages including referral guides that include youth-friendly mental health and youth friendly brochures annually.
Student identification cards that are issued to all students and shall include the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline telephone number (1-800-273-8255); and may also include the Crisis Text Line (text HOME to 741-741) or a local suicide prevention hotline telephone number on the front or back of the card. This requirement goes into effect on July 1, 2019; but schools that still have a supply of unissued student identification cards after the effective date may continue to issue these cards until the supply is depleted.
Intervention
Students shall be encouraged to notify the school social worker, nurse, principal, counselor, teacher or other adult when they are experiencing thoughts of suicide or when they suspect or have knowledge of another student’s suicidal intentions.
Whenever schools establish a peer counseling system to provide support for students, peer counselors shall receive training that includes identification of the warning signs of suicidal behavior and referral of a suicidal student to appropriate adults.
Every statement regarding suicidal intent shall be taken seriously. Whenever a staff member suspects or has knowledge of a student’s suicidal intentions based on the student’s verbalizations or act of self-harm, they shall promptly notify the principal or school social worker or nurse.
Although any personal information that a student discloses to a school counselor shall generally not be revealed, released, referenced, or discussed with third parties, the counselor may report to the principal or student’s parents/guardians when they have reasonable cause to believe that disclosure is necessary to avert a clear and present danger to the health, safety, or welfare of the student. In addition, the counselor may disclose information of a personal nature to psychotherapists, other health care providers, or the school nurse for the sole purpose of referring the student for treatment. (Education Code 49602)
(cf. 5141 – Health Care and Emergencies)
A school employee shall act only within the authorization and scope of their credential or license. An employee is not authorized to diagnose or treat mental illness unless they are specifically licensed and employed to do so. (Education Code 215) Schools can contact the School Health Programs office Nurse of the Day for consultation, referral, and support. School administrators and teachers/staff are not responsible for conducting suicide assessments or treating students who may exhibit signs of suicidality.
If a student demonstrates or expresses some level of suicidality, the student should be referred to a student support professional (i.e., school social worker or nurse) for further assessment and resources. This will be addressed with faculty/staff at schools annually. School Health Programs staff and community partners working with schools (e.g. RAMS, DPH), will follow suicide assessment tools when a student is suspected of being at risk for suicide.
(cf. 5138 – Conflict Resolution/Peer Mediation)
When a suicide attempt or threat is reported, the principal or designee shall ensure student safety by taking the following actions:
- Do not leave the student alone. If other students are present remove them from the area immediately
- Assess the severity/risk of suicidality
- Tell the team: Inform school social worker, school district nurse, appropriate administrator, parent/guardian
- Plan for safety and support
- Call Comprehensive Child Crisis Services at (415) 970-3800 if an evaluation is needed immediately
- You may call the nurse of the day during school hours at (415) 242-2615
- Record/document the incident in writing, including steps that the school took in response to the suicide attempt or threat
(cf. 0450 – Comprehensive Safety Plan)
(cf. 5141 – Health Care and Emergencies)
(cf. 5125 – Student Records)
The Superintendent or designee shall follow up with the parent/guardian and student in a timely manner to provide referrals to appropriate services as needed. If the parent/guardian does not access treatment for the student, the Superintendent or designee may meet with the parent/guardian to identify barriers to treatment and assist the family in providing follow-up care for the student. If follow-up care is still not provided, the Superintendent or designee shall consider whether it is required, pursuant to laws for mandated reporters of child neglect, to refer the matter to the local child protective services agency. In addition to notifying the parent/guardian, the Superintendent or designee may also contact city agencies such as DPH, Suicide Prevention, Comprehensive Crisis Services or private insurance providers.
(cf. 5141.4 – Child Abuse Prevention and Reporting)
For any student returning to school after a mental health crisis, the principal or designee, school social worker and/or school counselor may meet with the parents/guardians and, if appropriate, with the student to discuss re-entry and appropriate next steps to ensure the student’s readiness for return to school. (See SFUSD Crisis Manual Section E-1 on Re-Entry).
Postvention
In the event that a student dies by suicide, the Superintendent or designee shall communicate with the student’s parents/guardians to offer condolences, assistance, and resources. In accordance with the laws governing confidentiality of student record information, the Superintendent or designee shall consult with the parents/guardians regarding facts that may be divulged to other students, parents/guardians, and staff.
The Superintendent or designee shall implement procedures to address students’ and staff’s grief and to minimize the risk of imitative suicide or suicide contagion. They shall provide students, parents/guardians, and staff with information, counseling, and/or referrals to community agencies as needed. School staff may receive assistance from school counselors or other mental health professionals in determining how best to discuss the suicide or attempted suicide with students.
Any response to media inquiries shall be handled by the district-designated spokesperson who shall not divulge confidential information. The district’s response shall not sensationalize suicide and shall focus on the district’s postvention plan and available resources.
(cf. 1112- Media Relations)
After any suicide or attempted suicide by a student, the Superintendent or designee shall provide an opportunity for all staff who responded to the incident to debrief, evaluate the effectiveness of the strategies used, and make recommendations for future actions.
Please note that compare references, or “cf”, refer to CSBA model policies and do not necessarily indicate that the San Francisco Unified School District has adopted the referenced policy.