The Center Grove Suicide Risk Screening procedure is completed when a student appears to be at risk for suicide or self-harm. School Counselors, Social Workers, School Psychologists, and several building administrators are trained in utilizing the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), an evidence-supported tool for assessing suicide risk. The risk assessment includes interviewing the student to determine potential risks, protective factors, and collaborating with the student and his/her family. Safety planning is completed when there is a moderate or high level of risk. Situations which involve immediate risk may include transportation to a hospital emergency department by the student’s family, School Resource Officer or ambulance. 

If your child has been assessed or hospitalized for suicide risk, we encourage you to contact the School Counselor or Social Worker at the school so they may work with you and your child on safety planning. 

In addition to having a detailed suicide risk screening procedure, Center Grove 5th-12th grade teachers (among many other educators) have been trained in Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR). QPR prepares our educators to recognize the warning signs that a student may be at risk for suicide, as well as to refer them to school mental health and counseling staff for a risk screening. You can sign up for our next Community QPR Training here.

Information & Resources for Parents:

• Having a Conversation About Suicide With Your Child
• What Every Parent Should Know
• Why We Should Stop Saying “Committed Suicide”
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
• The Trevor Project (for LGBTQ+)
• Project Semicolon
• Suicide Prevention Coalition of Johnson County Facebook Page
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
• Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide
• Mental Health Flowchart
• Mental Health Resource for Families