Table 3.

Preparing for school suicide risk assessment in a distance learning environment

1. Review and modify existing policies, protocols, and procedures for use in the distance learning environment.

2. Identify community suicide intervention response resources.

3. Train staff to identify suicide risk factors and warning signs within the virtual classroom.

4. Provide staff with guidelines for responding to imminent suicide behavior situations.

5. Review with staff suicide risk assessment referral procedures and emphasize how they have been modified for the distance learning environment.

6. Develop telehealth skills.

7. Develop telehealth delivery options and platforms.

8. Ensure staff who conduct suicide risk assessment via telehealth have access to all current and updated student contact information.

9. Ensure staff who conduct suicide risk assessment have access to community suicide intervention response resources.

10. Develop caregiver telehealth consent procedures.

11. Develop suicide intervention procedures for situations wherein caregiver consent cannot be obtained.

Adapted from NASP (2020b)