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Suicide Prevention Resources for Schools
General Information (many with webinar sessions)
PA Youth Suicide Prevention Initiative
https://www.preventsuicidepa.org/task-force-county-init/
Mission – The Pennsylvania Youth Suicide Prevention Initiative is a multi-system collaboration to reduce youth suicide.
Vision – Youth suicide prevention will be embraced and incorporated into the fabric of every community in Pennsylvania to address the social and emotional needs of youth at risk and survivors of suicide.
Suicide Prevention Resource Center
SPRC is the nation’s only federally supported resource center devoted to advancing the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. They provide technical assistance, training, and materials to increase the knowledge and expertise of suicide prevention practitioners and other professionals serving people at risk for suicide. They also promote collaboration among a variety of organizations that play a role in developing the field of suicide prevention.
Toolkit for High Schools
http://store.samhsa.gov/product/SMA12-4669
Assists high schools and school districts in designing and implementing strategies to prevent suicide and promote behavioral health. Includes tools to implement a multi-faceted suicide prevention program that responds to the needs and cultures of students. Released in June 2012.
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has been at the forefront of a wide range of suicide prevention initiatives – each designed to reduce loss of life from suicide. They are investing in groundbreaking research, new educational campaigns, innovative demonstration projects and critical policy work. And they are expanding their assistance to people, whose lives have been affected by suicide, reaching out to offer support and offering opportunities to become involved in prevention.
American Association of Suicidology
http://www.suicidology.org/home
AAS is a membership organization for all those involved in suicide prevention and intervention, or touched by suicide. AAS is a leader in the advancement of scientific and programmatic efforts in suicide prevention through research, education and training, the development of standards and resources, and survivor support services.
Services for Teens At Risk (STAR Center)
http://www.starcenter.pitt.edu/
Services for Teens At Risk (STAR-Center) is a comprehensive research, treatment, and training center. Funded by the State of Pennsylvania’s General Assembly in 1986 to address adolescent suicide and depression, the program provides individual assessment and treatment to teens that are experiencing depression and suicidality. They also provide community education services about depression and suicidality to schools, social service agencies, churches and other organizations that request them.
The Trevor Project
http://www.thetrevorproject.org/
The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth.
Comprehensive School Guide
Youth Suicide Prevention School-Based Guide
The Youth Suicide Prevention School-Based Guide is designed to provide accurate, user-friendly information. The Guide is not a program but a tool that provides a framework for schools to assess their existing or proposed suicide prevention efforts (through a series of checklists) and provides resources and information that school administrators can use to enhance or add to their existing program. First, checklists can be completed to help evaluate the adequacy of the schools’ suicide prevention programs. Second, information is offered in a series of issue briefs corresponding to a specific checklist. Each brief offers a rationale for the importance of the specific topic together with a brief overview of the key points. The briefs also offer specific strategies that have proven to work in reducing the incidence of suicide, with references that schools may then explore in greater detail. A resource section with helpful links is also included. The Guide provides information to schools to assist them in the development of a framework to work in partnership with community resources and families.
School Policy
Model School Policy on Suicide Prevention
https://www.afsp.org/content/download/10555/186750/file/Model%20Policy_FINAL.pdf
Written by American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, National Association of School Psychologists, American School Counselor Association, and The Trevor Project. This modular, adaptable document will help educators and school administrators implement comprehensive suicide prevention policies in communities nationwide.
STAR Center Sample School Suicide Policy and Procedure
http://www.starcenter.pitt.edu/Sample-School-Suicide-Policy-And-Procedure/41/Default.aspx
Training for School Staff
Society for Prevention of Teen Suicide
The mission of the Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide is to reduce the number of youth suicides and attempted suicides by encouraging overall public awareness through the development and promotion of educational training programs for teens, parents and educators.
The free, interactive series Making Educators Partners in Suicide Prevention is designed to be completed at the viewer’s own pace. Pennsylvania school staff requiring Act 48 hours may submit the certificate of completion to [email protected] or fax it to 717-783-4790, along with your Dept. of Education Professional ID number, to have these hours submitted.
More Than Sad Program
The More Than Sad Program of the American Foundation for Suicide prevention provides education about factors that put youth at risk for suicide, in particular depression and other mental disorders. Instructional materials accompany the More Than Sad Program, including a PowerPoint presentation.
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
PA AFSP chapters will make the “More Than Sad” DVD available free to all high and middle schools in PA that request one. Contact Pat Gainey to receive your copy. Patricia Gainey, Regional Director, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Greater Philadelphia Regional Office, 3535 Market Street, Suite 4047, Philadelphia, PA 19104; Office: (215)746-7256.
Suicide Prevention Resource Center – Best Practices Registry
The purpose of the Best Practices Registry (BPR) is to identify, review, and disseminate information about best practices that address specific objectives of the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. The BPR is a collaborative project of the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). It is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Many of the best practice resources listed have to be purchased.
Material for Students
More Than Sad Program
The More Than Sad Program of the American Foundation for Suicide prevention provides education about factors that put youth at risk for suicide, in particular depression and other mental disorders.
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
PA AFSP chapters will make the “More Than Sad” DVD available free to all high and middle schools in PA that request one. Contact Pat Gainey to receive your copy. Patricia Gainey, Regional Director, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Greater Philadelphia Regional Office, 3535 Market Street, Suite 4047, Philadelphia, PA 19104; Office: (215)746-7256.
Suicide Prevention Resource Center Best Practices Registry
The purpose of the Best Practices Registry (BPR) is to identify, review, and disseminate information about best practices that address specific objectives of the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. The BPR is a collaborative project of the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). It is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Many of the best practice resources listed have to be purchased.
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
The curriculum is not SPRC listed, but does use elements of SOS and Lifelines.
http://sspw.dpi.wi.gov/sspw_suicideprev
Link to Student programs: http://sspw.dpi.wi.gov/sspw_spstudentprograms
Link to Curriculum: http://sspw.dpi.wi.gov/sspw_suicideprevcurriculum
Postvention Assistance
Services for Teens At Risk (STAR Center)
http://www.starcenter.pitt.edu/
Services for Teens At Risk (STAR-Center) is a comprehensive research, treatment, and training center. Funded by the State of Pennsylvania’s General Assembly in 1986 to address adolescent suicide and depression, the program provides individual assessment and treatment to teens that are experiencing depression and suicidality. They also provide community education services about depression and suicidality to schools, social service agencies, churches and other organizations that request them. Any PA school can contact the STAR-Center for assistance in the aftermath of a suicide or other tragic loss. STAR-Center can also provide in-service training and resource materials on a variety of mental health related topics.
Suicide Prevention Resource Center Postvention Toolkit
http://www.sprc.org/sites/sprc.org/files/library/AfteraSuicideToolkitforSchools.pdf
This toolkit is designed to assist schools in the aftermath of a suicide (or other death) in the school community. It is meant to serve as a practical resource for schools facing real-time crises to help them determine what to do, when, and how. The toolkit reflects consensus recommendations developed in consultation with a diverse group of national experts, including school-based personnel, clinicians, researchers, and crisis response professionals. It incorporates relevant existing material and research findings as well as references, templates, and links to additional information and assistance.
PA Youth Suicide Prevention Initiative
Compiled by the: PA Youth Suicide Prevention Initiative: