School Resources

The Helpline Center provides resources for schools and communities to implement to be prepared to assist someone at risk for suicide. One of the ways we can prevent suicide is to engage in open conversation about it. Helpline Center staff can provide short presentations to students to educate them about 988, mental health, and suicide prevention. There is a speaking fee and travel expenses for the presentations. If you are interested in a presentation, please contact us at training@helplinecenter.org.

Helpline Center staff can also provide a consultation regarding a Suicide Postvention Toolkit that recognizes the importance of structred support and a template for schools to navigate such tragic events. Contact griefsupport@helplinecenter.org to request a consultation.

Additionally, a toolkit filled with resources and information about 988 can be found in the link below.

988 Toolkit

School-Based Resources

Hope Squad- Evidence-Based, Peer-to-Peer Suicide Prevention

Helpline Center is partnering with the South Dakota Department of Health and South Dakota Schools to launch and support Hope Squads. For more information about Helpline Center’s role as a Hope Squad Community Partner or to learn about how to launch a Hope Squad at your school contact hopesquad@helplinecenter.org
  • Wagner Middle School
  • Wagner High School
  • Chamberlain High School
  • Hanson Middle School

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZzanuKgJ4M

Preventing and Responding to Suicide for Schools

It is important for a school community to have a crisis plan in place, ideally before there is a suicide loss. This helps the school and others involved to be aware of the critical roles they play in providing resources and support and to be able to respond in an organized manner following a death by suicide or suicide attempt.

The Helpline Center provides support and guidance in the development of this plan, please reach out to us to learn more.

Preventing Suicide: A Toolkit for High Schools is available for free download from SAMHSA. It assists school personnel in designing and implementing strategies that prevent suicide and promote behavioral health.

After a Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools  After a Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools assists schools in implementing a coordinated response to the suicide death of a student. Originally developed in 2011, the second edition includes new information and tools that middle and high schools can use to help the school community cope and reduce suicide risk.

Highlights of the second edition include:

  • Updated information on such topics as memorialization, social media, and contagion
  • Updated resource lists
  • A new tool to help with decision-making about memorials
  • New examples of how different communities have addressed specific issues in responding to a suicide death

Suicide Prevention Training for Teachers

A web-based training for school personnel is available online through STPS, click here  for a brochure. This free, interactive series “Making Educators Partners in Suicide Prevention” is designed to be completed at the viewer’s own pace. It is open to anyone who is interested in reviewing current strategies for youth suicide prevention in schools. Visit STPS to register, the 4th course listed is specifically for those in South Dakota.

Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC)

SPRC offers a page for high school teachers that contains information on recognizing and responding to warning signs, resource materials about suicide prevention, including programs, as well as other suicide prevention information relevant to teachers.

SPRC also offers a page for high school mental health providers that contains information on recognizing and responding to warning signs, resource materials about suicide prevention, including programs, as well as other suicide prevention information relevant to school health providers.
988 - Call, Text, Chat - helplinecenter.org/988
988 Mental Health Counselors are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.