Suicide

Overview

Each year an estimated 775,000 family members are impacted by the suicide attempt or death of a loved one. Countless others are concerned about friends. Young adults aged 18-24 have the highest incidence of reported suicide ideation.
 
One fourth of all persons aged 18-24 years in the U.S. are either full- or part-time college students. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is the second leading cause of death for Kentuckians 15-34 years old. From the National Institute of Mental Health, “suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students in the U.S.”
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Suicide Prevention Training for Educators

SUICIDE PREVENTION TRAINING AND RESOURCES FOR EDUCATORS

In response to Kentucky legislation regarding suicide prevention training and awareness for middle school and high school staff and students, the Department for Behavioral Health, has provided a Suicide Prevention Training Tool Kit. 

2024-2025 Recommendations for School Suicide Prevention Training Toolkit

SUICIDE PREVENTION TRAINING AND RESOURCES FOR EDUCATORS

SSI Suicide Website Image KYCHFS Suicide Prevention TrainingIn response to new Kentucky legislation regarding suicide prevention training and awareness for middle school and high school staff and students, the Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities has prepared information about programs, training and materials. Visit the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services website. 

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SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM

SSI Suicide Website Image KYCHFS Suicide Prevention ProgramThe purpose of this page is to provide information. It is NOT intended to be used for crisis prevention or intervention, or as a substitute for seeking professional help. The Commonwealth of Kentucky and its Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities provide no guarantee of the accuracy of, nor warranties of any kind related to, the material provided by external entities. Use of this information is at the sole risk of the user. Visit Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services website

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KENTUCKY SCHOOL LAW REQUIREMENTS…

SSI Suicide Website Image KRS Suicide PreventionSuicide Prevention Education for Middle and High School Staff
KRS 156.095 requires all school district employees with job duties requiring direct contact with students in grades four (4) through twelve (12) to fulfill one hour of high-quality (in-person, live streaming, or video recording) professional development training every year to review suicide prevention. In years that training is not provided, new hires shall be provided suicide prevention materials for review. This training may be included in the four days of professional development under KRS 158.070. KRS 161.011 permits suicide prevention training for classified employees.

Suicide Prevention Information for Middle and High School Students
KRS 156.095 requires that every public school and public charter school shall provide two (2) evidence-based suicide prevention awareness lessons each school year, the first by September 15 and the second by January 15, either in person, by live streaming, or via a video recording information to all students in grades six (6) through twelve (12). Every public school shall provide an opportunity for any student absent on the day the evidence-based suicide prevention awareness lesson was initially presented to receive the lesson at a later time. The Cabinet for Health and Family Services posts suicide prevention awareness and training information on its webpage.

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Suicide Prevention Resources

KENTUCKY CENTER FOR SCHOOL SAFETY’S EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT RESOURCE GUIDE

SSI Suicide Website Image KCSS EMRG SuicideKentucky Center for School Safety’s Emergency Management Resource Guide has a section on Suicide

Hinting, writing, or talking about suicide is a call for help and must be taken seriously. When confronted with a situation in which life-threatening behavior is present, immediate mobilization of all appropriate resources is paramount. Under such conditions, commitment to student confidentiality is superseded by the need to initiate life-saving interventions.

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FREE HOTLINE…NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE

SSI Bullying Website Image Suicide Prevention LifelineTogether, we can create awareness and give emotional support to those who may be contemplating suicide. If you or someone you know is in an emotional distress or suicidal crisis, please call the Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

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SUICIDE PREVENTION

SSI Suicide Website Image KidsPeace Suicide PreventionFacts, signs, and intervention – There are a number of reasons why children, like adults, may find themselves thinking the unthinkable. Alarmingly, in recent years, suicide has increased dramatically and, sadly, more and more of our children are choosing to end their lives rather than face the hardships the world hurls at them. This brochure provides suicide facts, signs you must not ignore, and intervention techniques…. (KidsPeace – The National Center for Kids Overcoming Crisis)

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SOURCES OF STRENGTH

Sources of Strength for Middle/High schools is a peer-led, evidence-based, mental health wellness program that utilizes the power of peer social networks to change unhealthy norms and cultures.

The elementary program utilizes a curriculum-based approach and keeps an upstream focus to increase health and wellness and decrease negative downstream outcomes by using active learning, talking circles, guided reflection and celebrating growth.

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Erika’s Lighthouse

Every student deserves good mental health. Erika’s Lighthouse is a nonprofit on a mission to provide free mental health programs for any school, anywhere. Erika’s Lighthouse works upstream, putting easy-to-use school mental health programs in place to end the youth mental health crisis at the start.

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SAFE AND EFFECTIVE MESSAGING FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION

This page offers evidence-based recommendations for creating safe and effective messages to raise public awareness that suicide is a serious and preventable public health problem. 

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SUICIDE CONTAGION AND CLUSTERS—PART 1: WHAT SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS SHOULD KNOW

National Association of School Psychologists – The suicide of a student has a rippling effect in the school environment as well as in the greater community, as a single adolescent death by suicide increases the risk of additional suicides. The process by which a completed suicide (or at times, suicidal behavior) increases the suicidal behavior of others is called contagion. 

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NATIONAL ACTION ALLIANCE FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION

SSI Suicide Website Image Action AllianceThe Public-Private Partnership Advancing the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention

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THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION

SSI Suicide Website Image CDC Suicide PreventionThe Center for Disease Control and Prevention hosted a webpage dedicated to suicide prevention, statistics, strategies and research. This site also includes podcasts on suicide prevention. (Department of Health and Human Resources)

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TOO GOOD PROGRAMS

Too Good – Program Summary – Too Good is a comprehensive family of evidence-based substance use and violence prevention interventions designed to mitigate the risk factors linked to problem behaviors and build protection within the child to resist problem behaviors. Too Good develops and reinforces a comprehensive skills framework including setting reachable goals, making responsible decisions, identifying and managing emotions, and effective communication in addition to peer-pressure refusal, pro-social peer bonding, and peaceful conflict resolution skills. Too Good builds the basis for a safe, supportive, and respectful learning environment.

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AFTER A SUICIDE: A TOOLKIT FOR SCHOOLS

SPRC After a Suicide Toolkit for SchoolsAfter a Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools addresses Objective 4.2 of the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention: Increase the proportion of school districts and private school associations with evidence-based programs designed to address serious childhood and adolescent distress and prevent suicide.

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K-12 TOOLKIT FOR MENTAL HEALTH PROMOTION AND SUICIDE PREVENTION

SSI Suicide Website Image Toolkit Mental HealthThis Toolkit was created by the Health Care Alliance for Response to Adolescent Depression (HEARD) in 2013 (updated in 2017), in response to a need for schools to promote student mental health and wellbeing, to prevent suicide and, in particular, how to respond after a suicide loss. The Toolkit convenes national best practices from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the National Center for School Mental Health (NCSMH), and several other organizations. It serves as a resource to fulfill California law AB 2246, The Pupil Suicide Prevention Act (2016), which requires that all public schools serving students in grades 7-12 have a Pupil Suicide Prevention Policy. This document has been updated to reflect both this need and this policy requirement. The tools and resources provided in this updated Toolkit are meant to complement what schools may already have in place and to help initiate the implementation of a Pupil Suicide Prevention Policy. (Heard Alliance)

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GUIDELINES FOR SCHOOLS RESPONDING TO … SUICIDE

SSI Suicide Website Image NCSCB GuidelinesNational Center for School Crisis and Bereavement (NCSCB) – Guidelines designed to respond to the needs of students and staff after a suicide has impacted the school environment.

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SUICIDE PREVENTION

When educators, students and communities learn warning signs and how to take action when a young person might be at risk of a suicidal crisis, lives can be saved. (KCSS Handout)

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AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION

SSI Suicide Website Image American Foundation for Suicide PreventionUnderstanding and preventing suicide through research, education, and advocacy

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SUICIDE PREVENTION RESOURCE CENTER

SSI Suicide Website Image Suicide Prevention Resource CenterPromoting a public health approach to suicide prevention

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AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SUICIDOLOGY

SSI Suicide Website Image American Association SuicidologyThe goal of the American Association of Suicidology (AAS) is to understand and prevent suicide

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NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS

SSI Suicide Website Image NASP Preventing SuicidePreventing Youth Suicide – Brief Fact and Tips

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NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE

SSI Bullying Website Image Suicide Prevention LifelineTogether, we can create awareness and give emotional support to those who may be contemplating suicide. If you or someone you know is in an emotional distress or suicidal crisis, please call the Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

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