Policy 5570 – Crisis Management/Suicide Prevention

A comprehensive crisis management/suicide prevention program shall be developed, implemented, and maintained by District personnel appointed by the Superintendent of Schools.

The student crisis management/suicide prevention program shall incorporate (a) primary prevention approaches which represent ongoing education of students, staff, and parents/guardians; (b) additional prevention approaches and intervention procedures for students with immediate assistance needs; and (c) guidelines for dealing with a crisis situation at the school and District level.

State Civil Liability Exemption
The State of Wisconsin encourages attempts to intervene in and prevent youth suicide by providing that the School Board and any District officer, employee, or volunteer who in good faith attempts to prevent suicide by a student is immune from civil liability under state law Wisconsin Statutes 118.295 for his or her acts or omissions in respect to the suicide or attempted suicide.

LEGAL REF.:

  • Wisconsin Statutes Sections
    • 115.365 DPI suicide prevention resources and assistance to school; annual notice to professional staff required
    • 118.01(2)d7 Instructional program goals related to suicide prevention and intervention
    • 118.295 Suicide intervention; civil liability exemption
    • 120.12(26) School safety plans
    • 121.02(l)(i) Safe and healthful facilities standard
    • 895.48 Civil liability exemption for certain emergency medical care
  • Wisconsin Administrative Code
    • PI 8.01(2)(e) School district standard; guidance and counseling program requirements

CROSS REF.:

ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS: None

AFFIRMED: September 24, 1991

REVISED:

  • June 25, 1996
  • January 29, 2002
  • January 28, 2025

Rule 5570 – Crisis Management/Suicide Prevention

General Framework

With the goals of promoting students’ well-being, intervening with students who may be identified as struggling or in crisis, reducing actual or attempted incidents of youth suicide and other forms of self-endangerment, and responding appropriately to any such incident that has a connection to the District, the School Board directs the administration to address youth suicide prevention and intervention through a multi-faceted approach that includes at least the following components:

  1. Initiatives to increase staff awareness of issues related to youth suicide, including, at a minimum and as required under state law, providing annual notice to the District’s licensed staff of the suicide prevention resources and services that are available through the Department of Public Instruction.
  2. Additional periodic professional development opportunities for appropriate staff, as determined by the administration, that relate to youth suicide prevention and intervention. Such opportunities may be voluntary or required and may be provided internally or through external sources.
  3. Age-appropriate instructional programming for students in the area of personal development that, as required under state law, is designed to address matters such as:
    1. The promotion of students’ positive social and emotional development;
    2. The promotion of positive psychological, emotional, and problem-solving responses among students;
    3. Skills that help students cope with social change; and
    4. At appropriate developmental levels, instruction that addresses the causes and signs of suicidal ideation/tendencies or other forms of self-harm, knowledge of the relationship between youth suicide and the use of alcohol and controlled substances, and knowledge of youth suicide prevention and intervention services that are available in the community.
  4. The incorporation of services and resources that address student mental health needs, positive social and emotional development, and suicide prevention and intervention within the District’s approach to providing guidance and counseling programs and services for students.
  5. The incorporation of suicide intervention and response components within the District’s crisis intervention and response procedures, including appropriate communication of such procedures to staff.
  6. The identification of and, where feasible, the engagement of cooperative efforts with relevant agencies, community organizations, and other experts. This may include identifying qualified agencies or organizations that:
    1. Offer consultative services to school professionals related to youth suicide prevention, intervention, and response; or
    2. Serve as emergency and non-emergency points of contact for youth who may be experiencing a suicidal crisis or other form of emotional distress and/or for students or families who may have related concerns regarding themselves or others.

Assignment of Responsibility

The Director of Special Education and Student Support shall have primary administrative responsibility and accountability to the Board and the Superintendent, or designee, for overseeing and coordinating the District’s approach to youth suicide prevention and intervention in a manner that is consistent with the above-identified general framework and the specific mandates found in state law.