Florida School Toolkit for K-12 Educators to Prevent Suicide

• The Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS see Tools 14a and 14b) is the most widely researched and evidence supported screening tool. The Columbia protocol is a screener with a variety of questions related to thoughts and behaviors to assess a person’s risk of suicide. Emergency room facilities are very familiar with the screener and it is widely used among them. The benefit of the screener is that anyone from a friend to a researcher is in a qualified position to use this resource. There are multiple versions of the screener appropriate for all ages, it is free to use, and is translated in more than 100 languages. It is very applicable for schools, as there is a version made to guide schools in making next-step decisions for students. For more information, visit cssrs.columbia.edu . • Question, Persuade, and Refer involves gatekeeper training that teaches students and staff members how to identify risks and warning signs of suicide. Just as people trained in CPR and the Heimlich maneuver help save thousands of lives each year, people trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer someone to help. For more information, visit qprinstitute.com . • Signs of Suicide (SOS) educates students about suicide and how to identify suicide warning signs with the motto: Acknowledge, Care, Tell. SOS is designed for grades 6–12 and has two key components: a video and a brief screening instrument that asks students questions. The student scores their own questionnaire and then identifies whether or not they need mental health assistance. Research has found that SOS increases seeking help from adults and reduces suicidal behavior. Scott Poland serves on the advisory board for SOS. For more information, visit mindwise.org . • The Suicide Assessment Five-Step Evaluation and Triage (SAFE-T, Tool 14c) walks the user through a five-step assessment that determines either a low, moderate, or high risk for suicide with recommended interventions depending on the severity level (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2009). The assessment may be found through the following link. This resource is extremely accessible, as it comes in a pocket card format and is intended to be used by mental health professionals. For more information, visit store.samhsa.gov/sites /default/files/d7/images/sma09-4432.jpg. • Youth Aware of Mental Health Program (YAM) is a role-play curriculum that provides youth with an opportunity to enact real-life situations related to suicide and to focus on changing negative thoughts into positive coping skills. This program has proven to be significant in decreasing bullying and substance abuse and increasing help-seeking behavior. For more information, visit y-a-m.org. • The PAX Good Behavior Game is a program for early elementary school classes to teach children how to self-regulate emotions and behaviors. Follow up studies have found that students who participated in the GBG had fewer suicide attempts in later years than those who did not participate in the program. For more information, visit goodbehaviorgame.air.org. • Riding the Wave is a promising newly developed fifth-grade curriculum from the state of Washington’s Youth Suicide Prevention Program. It uses direct language about depression and suicide. For more information, visit crisisconnections.org/riding-the-waves. Appendix 1 Resources 119