FAQ for Suicide Response Protocol
1. What is the purpose of the Suicide Response Protocol and Suicide Screening Form?
The purpose of the Suicide Response Protocol is to provide a consistent response to the threat of suicide. The protocol utilizes best practices most likely to ensure the safety of the student through assessment, referral, and follow-‐up. Because prior threats of suicide significantly increase the likelihood of an attempt, the protocol creates a record that follows the student as they advance grades or change schools and documents the steps staff and the school take in response to threat of suicide.
2. When should the Suicide Response Protocol be initiated?
Initiate the Suicide Response Protocol when a student makes any active suicide attempt or gesture, and/or talks about or shares thoughts of suicide, including those thoughts expressed in writing, art, or other forms. To initiate the protocol school staff will immediately notify the counselor or school psychologist AND administrator who form the decision making team and who will initiate the Suicide Prevention Protocol.
3. Where is the Suicide Screening Form available?
- Centennial SD – Centennial Intranet/Student Services
- David Douglas SD – https://sites.google.com/ddouglas.k12.or.us/student-‐services/counselors
- Gresham-‐Barlow SD – GBSD Website Counselor Fusion Page, GBSD Special Education Electronic Handbook
- Parkrose SD – "Crisis Planning/Response" Google Site, under the Suicide Protocol section.
- PPS – http://www.pps.k12.or.us/files/student-‐services/Suicide_Protoco_Updated.pdf
- Reynolds SD -‐ RSD “Intranet” in the Counseling Section
4. Does the Suicide Screening Form fall under HIPAA guidelines?
No. “Education records” are covered by FERPA and generally excluded from definition of “protected health information” in the HIPAA Privacy Rule. See 45 CFR § 160.102.
5. Is the Suicide Screening Form a clinical document?
No. The suicide screening form is an incident report form that tracks a potential risk and the response of the school district staff to that risk.
6. Is the Suicide Screening Form a mental health assessment?
No. The Suicide Screening Form is an incident report form specific to suicide risk. A Mental Health Assessment is a comprehensive psychosocial history with presenting problem/s; current symptoms; family, health, education, legal and cultural history; clinical formulation; diagnosis, and treatment recommendations.
7. Is the Suicide Screening Form the same as a mental health referral?
No. A mental health referral is a separate form; however in the process of identifying response to risk, a mental health provider may be contacted to complete a mental health assessment.
8. Do I have to fill out a mental health referral form in addition to the Suicide Screening Form if I want to refer for mental health services?
Yes, but you do not need to be redundant. Attach the Suicide Screening Form and refer to it if a question is duplicated.
9. What do I do with the Suicide Screening Form once it is complete?
Share the Suicide Screening Form with the building administrator and the school counselor, and send a copy or PDF to Student Services. Place the form in the student’s cumulative file. It is essential that schools are aware of a student’s past suicidal concerns, and that this information follows the student when they enter a new school. Confidential envelopes may be used to house the screening form in the file.
10. I don’t trust that the information in the “Confidential Envelope” will remain confidential.
Any document developed or used for the purpose of sharing student information must be placed in the student’s cumulative file. Failure to do this is a violation of FERPA and school board policy. If you have reason to believe staff in your building is unaware of or failing to adhere to the rules, notify administration so that training about appropriate use of the cumulative file and consequences for violations can be provided. Training staff to respect and understand student confidentiality must be prioritized over leaving essential information out of the cumulative record to protect the student from prying eyes. Language is being finalized for use on the Confidential Envelope that iterates policy and the consequences for anyone unnecessarily viewing or sharing confidential student information.
11. What happens after I send the Suicide Screening Form to Student Services?
A qualified professional reviews the form and, if necessary, contacts referring school staff to provide support. Student Services collects data to determine how to best support students, families, and schools around suicide prevention and intervention. Screening forms are kept in a secure location.
12. Will placing the Suicide Screening Form in the student’s cumulative folder violate the American School Counselors Association guidelines?
School counselors are subject to the same FERPA and School Board policy requirements as other school district employees. Professional guidelines do not have the effect of the law.
13. Do I have to fill out this form with the student while they are in crisis?
School personnel are required to use this form to screen students when a risk of suicide has been identified. The form is an information collection tool. How the student and family interviews are conducted may vary. Some staff ask key questions and complete the form after the interview. Others use the form to reinforce to the student that what they are saying is important and the interviewer wants to make sure they get all the information to support the student, and some bring in a colleague trained in ASIST to ask the questions.
14. When should we call the Crisis Line?
The Crisis Line (503-‐988-‐4888)
- When a student has an urgent mental health need (see Suicide Prevention Protocol).
- When there is a need to consult about a student, or When there is a need for mental health information or referrals.
15. When should we call 911?
- When the threat of harm to self or others is imminent, or
- When the parent/guardian is unable/unwilling to transport a student in crisis to mental health services immediately.
16. Can a listed “emergency contact” sign a release or give permission for a student to be transported if parents/guardians are unavailable?
No. That person can be helpful in finding the parent/guardian and/or coming to support the student but they cannot sign a release or give permission for transport.
17. Why must I obtain a release of information (ROI) if the parent is responsible and taking care of the student’s mental health needs?
An ROI allows for ongoing communication, coordination, and planning between school personnel and the mental health provider. For a large part of the day, students are the school’s responsibility. Essential information about the student’s mental health needs is necessary to support the student and make every effort to keep them safe.
18. What if the student/family won’t sign the release?
Try and try again. Stay connected with the parents. Get as much information as you can to help the student stay safe. Find the staff member in the school that the family feels most connected to and have them work with the family. Regularly check in with the student.
19. What is the “Crisis Exception” to the requirement for the release of information?
If you believe that a situation exists that merits a crisis exception follow your district’s policies for notifying administrators and obtaining authorization to release information.
“In some situations, a school may determine that it is necessary to disclose non-‐directory information to appropriate parties in order to address a disaster or other health or safety emergency. FERPA permits school officials to disclose, without consent, education records, or personally identifiable information from education records, to appropriate parties … in connection with an emergency, if knowledge of that information is necessary to protect the health or safety of the student or other individuals. See 34 CFR §§ 99.31(a)(10) and 99.36. This exception to FERPA’s general consent requirement is temporally limited to the period of the emergency and generally does not allow for a blanket release of personally identifiable information from the student’s education records, within a reasonable period of time after a disclosure is made under this exception, an educational agency or institution must record in the student’s education records the articulable and significant threat that formed the basis for the disclosure and the parties to whom information was disclosed. 34 CFR § 99.32(a)(5).”1
20. When do I need to fill out a Safety Plan? Who monitors it? How often must it be reviewed?
When there is a concern about acute student safety at school and/or upon return from hospitalization. A qualified mental health professional, the student, and the family should play significant roles in safety planning. Your administrator, counselor, or school psychologist are all qualified to monitor the plan. Plans should include timelines and be re-‐visited in consultation with a mental health provider frequently.
21. What resources are available to support the student and the school when a student returns after a suicide attempt?
Students need to return to school as soon as possible. Student Services can help with re-‐entry. Remember to coordinate with the student’s Section 504 team or IEP team if applicable.
1 Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Disclosure of Student Information Related to Emergencies and Disasters June 2010, pg.4. (http://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/pdf/ferpa-‐disaster-‐ guidance.pdf)