Suicide Prevention & Postvention Policy

Suicide Prevention and Postvention. The Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf in recognition of the need to protect the health, safety and welfare of its students, to promote healthy development, to safeguard against the threat or attempt of suicide among school aged youth, and to address barriers to learning, hereby adopts this policy. This policy corresponds with and supports other federal, state and local efforts to provide youth with prevention education, early identification and intervention, and access to all local resources to promote health and prevent personal harm or injury.

Prevention Education. Students will receive age appropriate lessons in their classrooms through health education on the importance of safe and healthy choices, as well as help seeking strategies for self or others. Students are taught not to make promises of confidence when they are concerned about a peer or significant other. Lessons will contain information on comprehensive health and wellness, including emotional, behavioral and social skills development. Lessons are taught by health and physical education teachers, community service providers and Counseling and Evaluation staff. Students who are in need of intervention will be referred to the Counseling and Evaluation department for screening and recommendations.

Read the full Suicide Prevention and Postvention Policy from the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf.