In the wake of COVID-19 and school closures, school psychologists will face challenges in using telecommunication options to provide mental health services and suicide intervention. However, school psychologists should still implement best practices.

<div>
  In the wake of COVID-19 and school closures, school psychologists will face
  challenges in using telecommunication options to provide mental health
  services and suicide intervention. Our role as mental health providers may
  look different during school closures; however, our practice should remain
  consistent. When addressing suicidal ideation and behavior during virtual
  learning, school psychologists should still implement best practices related
  to Prevention, Intervention, and Postvention.
</div>

<div>
  This is meant to be an overview, not an exhaustive list, of how school
  psychologists can help. Please see
  <a
    href="https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/covid-19-resource-center/crisis-and-mental-health-resources/comprehensive-school-suicide-prevention-in-a-time-of-distance-learning"
    >NASP&rsquo;s statement</a
  >
  for more comprehensive information.
</div>

<div>
  <strong>Prevention</strong><br />
  School psychologists should promote mental wellness, proactively provide
  guidance that mitigates the danger associated with suicidal ideation, and help
  identify at-risk youth. Even when working virtually, we must enable access to
  resources and communicate effectively with school personnel and families the
  risks associated with depression, anxiety, stress, social media, and isolation
  from friends. Please see the
  <a href="https://www.sprc.org/settings/schools"
    >Suicide Prevention Resource Center</a
  >
  website for more helpful tips and strategies.
</div>

<div>
  <strong>Intervention</strong><br />
  As virtual service providers, school psychologists can provide the necessary
  mental health interventions when alerted by school personnel. Virtual
  platforms foster connection to the student, their family, and community
  service providers and agencies to best support the student. Virtual platforms
  allow for a quality and collaborative risk assessment to be completed.
  Information should be gathered on the student&rsquo;s plan, access, means,
  level of lethality, and support systems. Once a threat assessment is
  completed, school psychologists and administration can provide the family with
  resources and can make the necessary connections to community agencies to
  ensure the student&rsquo;s safety.
</div>

<div>
  Safety planning is a critical component of intervention. It is crucial to help
  students identify the internal and external resources and supports available
  to them. Some great apps to look into include
  <a href="https://jasonfoundation.com/get-involved/student/a-friend-asks-app/"
    >A Friend Asks</a
  >
  and the
  <a href="https://store.samhsa.gov/product/suicide-safe"
    >Suicide Safe Mobile App</a
  >.
</div>

<div>
  Remember,
  <a
    href="https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/covid-19-resource-center/crisis-and-mental-health-resources/comprehensive-school-suicide-prevention-in-a-time-of-distance-learning"
    >NASP</a
  >
  indicates that &ldquo;because suicide intervention is crisis intervention,
  parental consent is not required, and the absence of parents should not
  prevent a suicide intervention.&rdquo; Always consult with your administration
  and the district&rsquo;s legal counsel on how to manage these situations.
</div>

<div><strong>Postvention</strong></div>

<div>
  Postvention requires intervening to help students cope with extreme traumatic
  stressors and to minimize suicide contagion. During times of virtual service
  delivery, we must work with school personnel and families to monitor social
  media and other virtual platforms to identify at-risk youth and minimize
  suicide contagion.
</div>

<div>
  Find out where your specialized skills as a
  <a
    href="https://www.crosscountryeducation.com/job-search-results?what=+School+Psychologist&amp;where="
    >school psychologist</a
  >
  are needed most today.
</div>


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