Table 5.

Conducting school suicide risk assessment in a distance learning environment

1. Retrieve primary caregiver’s contact information and determine their location.

2. Contact primary caregiver and obtain informed consent.

a. Follow district protocol if consent cannot or is not given.

3. Document suicide risk factors and warning signs.

4. Retrieve student’s contact information and determine their exact physical location.

5. Contact student and obtain assent to conduct the risk assessment.

a. Follow district protocol if assent is not given.

b. Call 911 if there is a direct and imminent suicide threat.

c. Call 911 if the student terminates the assessment without reason or warning.

6. Conduct a suicide risk assessment interview.

7. Communicate risk assessment results to primary caregivers and collect additional risk assessment data.

8. Determine risk level, select interventions, and develop a safety plan.

9. Develop an action plan for the primary caregivers.

10. Share action plan with school and community crisis intervention resources.

11. Begin to develop a plan for the student’s return to the learning/classroom environment.

Adapted from NASP (2020a)