Policy Glen Ridge Board of Education

5350 PUPIL SUICIDE PREVENTION

The Board of Education recognizes that depression and self-destruction are problems of increasing severity among children and adolescents. The Board of Education directs all school personnel to be alert to the pupil who exhibits signs of potential self-destruction or who threatens or attempts suicide. Any such signs or the report of such signs from another pupil or staff member should be taken with the utmost seriousness and reported immediately to the Building Principal, who shall notify the pupil’s parent(s) or legal guardian(s) and other professional staff members in accordance with administrative regulations.

A potential suicide shall be referred to the Student Assistance Counselor for appropriate evaluation and recommendation for child study evaluation or independent medical or psychiatric services. In the event that a parent(s) or legal guardian(s) objects to the recommended evaluation or indicates an unwillingness to cooperate in the best interest of the pupil, the Director of Special Serves may contact the New Jersey Division of Youth and Family Services to request that the agency’s intervention of the pupil’s behalf. 

The Superintendent shall prepare and disseminate regulation for the guidance of staff members in recognizing the pupil who contemplates suicide, in responding to threatened or attempted suicide, and in preventing contagion when a pupil commits suicide.

Adopted: 25 November 2002