School-based Suicide Prevention Program Planning

This book began as an exploration of the scope and limits of a state-adopted suicide prevention manual. It expanded into the creation of useful and efficacious guidelines for school-based suicide prevention in order to effectively implement those guidelines and practices in schools. Using a human ecological approach to school-based suicide prevention program development, this book examines trends in youth suicide, related legal implications, and roles of school personnel. Research literature and mandates from a federal government effort informed the creation of the guidelines. This book calls for greater school leadership in effective development and implementation of school-based suicide prevention programs and policies, systematic screening to identify suicidal students, collaboration between schools and the community to accommodate referral and treatment of identified students, and gatekeeper training for all school personnel. It is a must read for school boards, district administrators, school site professionals, and those who develop or select school-based suicide prevention materials and programs.