Suicide Prevention
Suicide Prevention Certified Schools
The “Suicide Prevention Certified School” designation requires all of the following:
- All instructional personnel are required to complete two hours of a department-approved youth suicide awareness and prevention training every three years;
- The youth suicide awareness and prevention training must be included in the district’s continuing education or master inservice plan;
- The school has at least two school-based mental health services providers that are qualified to conduct a suicide risk assessment using a department-approved screening instrument; and
- The school or district has a policy requiring the use of an approved suicide risk assessment instrument administered by a school-based mental health services provider prior to requesting or initiating an involuntary examination due to concerns about a student’s suicide risk.
Schools that meet the criteria for a “Suicide Prevention Certified School” must report compliance to the Department of Education by submitting a completed SPCS Certification Form (PDF) to SuicidePreventionSchools@fldoe.org.
Attachment A: RSAT-2020 and Attachment B: SPCS Certification Form
Suicide Risk Assessment Instruments
The following are department-approved youth suicide risk assessment instruments per s. 1012.583, F.S., and Rule 6A-4.0010, F.A.C.:
- Columbia – Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS): Lifetime-Recent
- Suicide Assessment Five-Step Evaluation and Triage (SAFE-T)
- SAFE-T with C-SSRS
Youth Suicide Awareness and Prevention Training for K-12 Instructional Personnel
The following are department-approved youth suicide awareness and prevention trainings for K-12 instructional personnel per s. 1012.583, F.S., and Rule 6A-4.0010, F.A.C. A school district may request approval of district-developed or adopted youth suicide awareness and prevention training materials by completing form RSAT-2020 (PDF) and submitting it to SuicidePreventionSchools@fldoe.org.
Professional Development – Question, Persuade, Refer Enhanced (QPR Enhanced)
Cost: Free
Format: 2 hours, online or face-to-face
This training, offered twice a month, is an evidence-based adult and youth gatekeeper training on the warning signs of suicide and how to get help for students in crisis using the question, persuade and refer technique. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are offered. The QPR Enhanced was developed to meet the requirements for Youth Suicide Awareness and Prevention Training for K-12 Instructional Personnel. For questions related to this training, contact Alton Honors II, Director, at Altonh@usf.edu, or Beverley Wilks, School Social Work Consultant, at Beverley.Wilks@fldoe.org.Community Member Suicide Prevention Training
Cost : $19
Format: 2 hours, self-paced
Website: https://learn.naminh.org/course/connect-schools
This ConnectTM Program training includes interactive case scenarios and protocols for recognizing and responding to individuals at risk for suicide in a variety of community settings. The training is intended for adults 18 and older.
Utilizing a holistic, Social-Ecological model, the Connect Program examines suicide within the context of the individual, family, community, and society. A designated National Best Practice Program, Connect has delivered suicide prevention and postvention training in 40+ states and internationally for more than 20 years.
Please note that districts will still be responsible for covering district and school-specific information, including identification and referral to school and community-based mental health service providers, district procedures for responding to a student with suicidal ideation or intent, and guidelines for informing parents of suicide risk.