Suicide Prevention and Information Gathering 

Without a doubt, school counselors want to support students who are dealing with suicidal ideation. When school counselors become aware a student is thinking of suicide, they recognize the obligation to gather information, inform parents/guardians and provide resources to equip the family. The difficulty is not in the commitment to support students thinking of suicide; it’s in the use of protocols quantifying suicide. Determining suicide risk is problematic on many levels, not the least of which is the impossibility of assessing the risk.  

In this one-day workshop, learn more about the rationale for moving away from assessment-based protocols, how to implement the new ASCA Information-Gathering Tool: Suicide Concern, and brainstorm best practices for developing a suicide-prevention program at your school with a focus on upstream supports.

Learning Objectives: 
After attending this workshop, you will be able to:

• Identify school counselors’ appropriate role in the suicide information-gathering process
• Effectively advocate for a shift from suicide risk assessments to information-gathering tools in your school & district
• Discuss legal and ethical complications of suicide risk assessments
• Explain best practices, including gathering information and relaying information to parents/guardians 
• Access the ASCA Information-Gathering Tool: Suicide Concern and implement it in your school and district
• Collaborate with fellow educators to identify suicide-prevention practices in your school and actionable steps to refine or further develop upstream supports.