Stevensville School District

INSTRUCTION

Suicide Awareness and Prevention

Professional Development

The District will provide professional development on youth suicide awareness and prevention to each employee of the district who work directly with any students enrolled in the school district. The training materials will be approved by the Office of Public Instruction (OPI).

The District will provide, at a minimum, two (2) hours of youth suicide awareness and prevention training every five (5) years. All new employees who work directly with any student enrolled in the school district will be provided two (2) hours of training the first year of employment.

Youth suicide and prevention training may include:

A. In-person attendance at a live training;
B. Videoconference;
C. An individual program of study of designated materials;
D. Self-review modules available online; and
E. Any other method chosen by the local school board that is consistent with professional development standards.

Prevention and Response

The Board authorizes the Administration and appropriate District staff to develop procedures to address matters related to suicide prevention and response that:

A. Promote collaboration with families and with community providers in all aspects of suicide prevention and response;
B. Include high quality intervention services for students;
C. Promote interagency cooperation that enables school personnel to identify and access appropriate community resources for use in times of crisis;
D. Include reintegration of youth into a school following a crisis, hospitalization, or residential treatment;
E. Provide for leadership, planning, and support for students and school personnel to ensure appropriate responses to attempted or completed suicides.

No cause of action may be brought for any loss or damage caused by any act or admission resulting from the implementation of the provisions of this policy or resulting from any training, or lack of training, related to this policy. Nothing in this policy shall be construed to impose a specific duty of care.

This policy will be reviewed by the Board of Trustees on a regular basis.

Legal Reference:
ยง 20-7-1310, MCA Youth suicide awareness and prevention training
ARM 10.55.720 Suicide Prevention and Response

Policy History:
Adopted on: October 11, 2017
Reviewed on: September 2017; December 10, 2019; September 12, 2023
Revised on: January 14, 2020; October 10, 2023