Laredo ISD - Guidance and Counseling Program

Suicide cuts across all ages, ethnic groups, and socio-economic levels. An adolescent who threatens to commit suicide or who commits suicide is unable to see alternatives to his/her problems. The adolescent experiences feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness. To this individual, suicide is the solution to the problem and stress that he/she faces; it is the only way out. Suicide is preventable. With the proper treatment by mental health professionals, the teen can return to a healthier plan of development. It is important that persons around the troubled individual respond in a warm, concerned and caring manner.

Any threat of suicide should be taken seriously and dealt with promptly. If a student communicates thoughts of suicide verbally or in writing, the student should be referred to a school counselor or an administrator immediately.

Responsibilities of teachers and staff:

Escort the student to the office of the counselor or administrator.
Do not leave the student alone. Do allow the student to leave the office by himself or herself.
If a counselor is not available, escort the student to the school nurse. The nurse will follow the protocol delineated in the Quality Nursing Interventions.
If a teacher or other staff member becomes aware of a student’s intent to commit suicide after school hours, the teacher should contact the school principal. Parents should then be contacted. The teacher or staff member should report the incident the following day to the school counselor using the Student Referral Form.

Responsibilities of the school counselor:

Interview the student.
Complete the Student Safety Plan if necessary.
Contact the campus administrator.
Contact the parent(s) and hold a parent conference. Provide the parent(s) with the Community Service Providers form and have the parent(s) sign this form. The counselor should retain a copy of the form signed by the parent(s).
Release the student to the parent(s).
Follow-up the next day with the student.
Notify the student’s teachers and advise them that confidentiality is important.
If the parent(s) is/are not available:

Contact the campus administrator.
If necessary, contact the campus Laredo ISD police officer. After 5:00 p.m. the Laredo ISD police officer on call can be reached at (956) 763-9541.
Follow-up the next day with the student and the parent. The parent should be provided with the Community Service Providers form. If the parents cannot come to the school, a truant officer should make a home visit to get this form signed by the parent. A copy should be retained by the school counselor.

If the parent(s) refuses to come to the school or does not follow up with the referral to a community agency, the counselor will call Child Protective Services, 1-800-252-5400.
Follow-up counseling sessions are scheduled with the student at the campus.