Preventing Suicide: A Toolkit for High Schools

Preventing Suicide: A Toolkit for High Schools helps schools, school districts, and community partners develop coordinated suicide prevention efforts. It explains risk factors, warning signs, protective factors, and connections between suicide, bullying, and substance use. Guidance covers helping students at risk, making referrals, and supporting students returning to school after a suicide attempt. It also addresses responding to a suicide death, educating staff and families, student prevention programs, and screening. Forms, checklists, sample letters, and handouts can help school teams assess existing practices and establish response procedures. Published in 2012, it should be used with updated statistics, contact information, and current guidance.