PENNSYLVANIA: Suicide prevention program takes step forward in Titusville schools
July 31, 2015
Recent legislation in Pennsylvania requires all schools to implement suicide prevention policies, and the Titusville school district is ready to comply. Titusville already has an extensive suicide prevention program in place, which will expand with the statewide mandate. One new addition is a staff training requirement. Under the Pennsylvania law, “teachers are trained for four hours, every five years, on suicide awareness, what to look for, how to document and how to make crisis calls,” said Superintendent Karen Jez. “It really kind of gives a foundation to what we’ve already done here in Titusville.” In order to meet another of the law’s requirements, these education sessions will be open to students’ parents as well. If approved by the school board, the new policy will go into effect for the 2015-2016 school year.
Spark Extra! Check out SPRC’s information sheet on The Role of High School Teachers in Preventing Suicide.