Expert Perspectives. Real-World Strategies. Actionable Next Steps.
A Q&A Guide on Suicide Awareness & Prevention for School & District Leaders
Suicide is one of the leading causes of death among school-age youth—yet many educators still feel unprepared to recognize the warning signs, respond appropriately, and connect students to the help they need.
This practical Q&A guide, featuring expert insights from Dr. Scott Poland, Dr. McKinley Withers, and Thom Jones, equips school and district leaders with clear, compassionate strategies for prevention, intervention, and postvention. Use it to lead internal trainings, update protocols, and support staff in building a culture of connection and readiness.
Preventing Suicide Starts with School Culture, Connection, & Consistency
According to recent CDC data:
- 40% of high school students report feeling persistently sad or hopeless
- 1 in 10 has attempted suicide in the past year
But most students will never say "I need help" unless they have a trusted adult and a safe environment to speak up.
This guide offers practical steps for:
- Identifying early warning signs
- Building trusted relationships
- Training all staff to ask clearly and respond consistently
- Integrating prevention into MTSS and character education
- Partnering with parents and community mental health providers
School safety requires a proactive, collaborative approach that involves training, tools, and technology. Provided in partnership with 911Cellular, Navigate360's panic buttons and emergency management platform are designed specifically to help Alabama schools respond to and recover from events with speed, precision, and efficiency.
Be Proactive in Protecting Your School Community
Earlier this year, Alabama introduced legislation requiring schools to provide school employees training for and access to a mobile emergency rapid response system. The bill, HB234, requires employees to have a device that links directly to law enforcement to speed the response time in an emergency. If passed, the law becomes effective October 1, 2025, and stipulates compliance by October 1, 2030.
The law is modeled after Alyssa’s Law, already enacted in other states. Alyssa’s Law is named for 14-year-old Alyssa Alhadeff, a victim in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre.
"The most obvious [warning signs] are talking about suicide, writing about suicide, researching suicide... Some young people are leading secret lives on social media."
"Whether we like it or not, we are teaching social and emotional lessons 100% of the time… Even if we're teaching emotional skills at school, students are still dealing with a very loud, angry, unregulated world."
"A principal kept a spreadsheet of every student and who their trusted adult is. New student? You've got a week to assign one."
