Suicide Prevention and Support

Protecting the health and well-being of all students is of utmost importance to VBCPS.

All school personnel and students will be expected to help create a school culture of respect and support, in which students feel comfortable seeking help for themselves or friends. Students are encouraged to tell any staff member if they or a friend are experiencing feelings of suicidal ideation or are in need of help. While confidentiality and privacy are important, students should know that when there is risk of suicide, safety comes first.

Students learn about recognizing and responding to warning signs and risk factors for suicide and mental illness through mental health lessons taught by school counselors and Health/PE teachers in secondary Health/PE. These lessons utilize resources from the Virginia Department of Education, Everfi, and Erika’s Lighthouse and the concepts are reinforced throughout
the year. At the elementary level, personal safety and encouragement of help-seeking behaviors are also taught.

In accordance with Virginia Code §22.1-272.1, all licensed educational professionals who
believe a student may be at-risk of suicide hold the responsibility of reporting these students
to a qualified school professional (QSP), while ensuring the safety of the student. QSPs are responsible for assessing a student’s level of risk. When the suicide risk level is deemed to be imminent or elevated imminent, the QSP with support of administration will communicate directly with the parent/legal guardian and will refer the student and parent/legal guardian to local mental health services for further assessment. The parent/legal guardian is not contacted if the reason for the suicidal ideation is due to suspected abuse or neglect. In these instances, Child Protective Services is contacted.

Resources available for students and parents/legal guardians include:

• Kempsville Center for Behavioral Health (757) 461-4565,
  www.kempsvillecenter.com
  No-cost assessments provided 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
  No mental Health or medical referral needed
• Department of Human Services-Crisis Response - Mental Health Unit (757) 385-0888
• Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters (CHKD) Mental Health Service Line (757) 668-4673
• Crisis Text Line, Text “HOME” to 741-741, www.crisistextline.org
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 988, 988lifeline.org
• Trevor Lifeline 1-866-488-7386
  Text/Chat Services, available 24/7, Text “START” to 678-678
• If there is an IMMEDIATE emergency, please call 911.

Any cost for participation in programs not offered by the school division is borne by the parent/legal guardian of the student.