Suicide in Schools Model
The SiS Model: A Case Management System
Assessment and intervention with a student who presents with suicidal thoughts and behaviors is perhaps one of the most common tasks of school personnel with regard to suicide. The Suicide in Schools (SiS) Model of suicide assessment and management takes you through all the applied steps to conduct ethical suicide risk screenings (universal or targeted), complete comprehensive suicide risk assessments (SRAs), and facilitate appropriate follow up and intervention.
The SiS Model outlines clear processes that will help schools and districts develop clear and consistent suicide prevention protocols and procedures. It was developed based upon extensive research and provides a tool for schools to ensure standardized practices across a school district. The SiS Model has been utilized nationally and internationally by schools and practitioners.
Comprehensive assessments in the SiS Model include intake information, parent and teacher interviews, observations, mental status exams, along with structured and semi-structured diagnostic interviews (including specific questions to ask). The SiS Model ensures notification to parents or guardians and utilizes a systems approach to document consultation with and referral to other school staff and administrators, families, and community agencies including hospitals or crisis centers.
The SiS Model also includes procedures and forms to monitor suicide risk over time, document treatment, and detail safety planning. Strategies for both home and school safety planning are identified and monitored to reinforce safety across environments. Finally, the SiS Model facilitates the integration of youth back to school after a suicide attempt or hospitalization with re-entry planning documents. Re-entry planning includes ensuring efficacy of interventions, monitoring strategies and supports in place, and revising plans when needed.
Many school procedures do not include all phases of suicide prevention programming and procedure development. The SiS Model has you covered with a comprehensive approach.
Dr. Terri Erbacher, Ph.D., Strategic Partner
PCG is delighted to partner with Dr. Terri Erbacher, Ph.D. Terri is a distinguished author, speaker, consultant, and go-to subject expert for media. She has also been a certified school psychologist and licensed psychologist in Pennsylvania since 1999.
If you’re interested in training related to the SiS Model or suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention, learn more about Terri’s asynchronous online courses.
The SiS Model At A Glance
The SiS Model Youth Suicide Risk Screening Form can be used as a universal screener. These are used with all students in a grade, building, or cohort. If there is any indication of risk, complete the SRA.
The SiS Model Youth Suicide Risk Screening Form can also be used as targeted screening. This is used with students who have some indication of risk (e.g., social media post about being suicidal). If there is any indication of risk, complete the SRA.
The SiS Model Youth SRA Form provides a framework for understanding risk factors, warning signs, strengths and resources, and the environmental context needed to understand suicide risk. The SRA should be used to coordinate with organizations and providers outside of the school. It is integral to always contact parents, and, if needed, complete a safety plan and follow up with a suicide risk monitoring tool. If the student is hospitalized, follow up with a re-entry meeting.
The SiS Model Suicide Risk Monitoring Tool (SMT) provides a quick and efficient way to track changes in suicide risk over time for any student with some indication of suicide risk.
Safety planning is an empirically supported intervention that provides students and their families with specific actions that can be used to temporarily distract youth from suicidal thoughts. Safety plans should be developed for any student with some indication of suicide risk. The SiS Model Home-School Safety Plan includes strategies for varied needs within both the home and school environments.
The SiS Model Re-Entry Plan is developed in collaboration with students, families, school staff, and outside providers, if available, to develop strategies for students to be safe and secure in the school building after hospitalization or a suicide attempt. The goal is to promote a successful return to the school environment.
There are many benefits to moving your suicide prevention documents online. Some of the benefits of the SiS Model’s online case management system include:
- Liability protection, as it ensures all steps are followed and guides the user to document all steps by entering data required to complete the SRA process, including parent communications, referrals, and follow-up
- Fidelity of the SRA process throughout the district as each school utilizes the same forms consistently in every case
- Easy access to online documents by school team members and administrators approved to view the information regardless of location
- Organized system that keeps all forms in one place and easily allows schools to gather and graph data for reporting and ongoing analysis
PCG's Core Benefits
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