Suicide Prevention for Educators Course

The following classes are part of a larger course entitled, “Youth Suicide Prevention for Educators.” This 8-part course consists of 30-minute modules that satisfy the needs of Act 71 of 2014, requiring a minimum of four hours of training on suicide prevention every five years. This series was developed in collaboration with the Delaware County Intermediate Unit. Each class within this larger course consists of a pre-quiz, video training module, and post-quiz. You may complete as many of the 8 classes as you would like. Each will show up on your Prevent Suicide PA Online Learning Center transcript. Additionally, if you complete all of the 8 classes, you may print a certificate indicating the number of hours completed to submit to your employer or school district.

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Pre-Course Evaluation

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Completing these additional questionnaires is completely voluntary. You are welcome to view the entire course without participating in the research piece. However, if you do choose to participate, you should also know that all of your responses will remain confidential, and none of your individual answers will be shared with anyone.

1. Suicide Prevention 101 and Debunking Myths

Unfortunately, some educators are more familiar with myths about suicide than actual facts and data. It is important to help debunk myths about suicide, so that educators can better understand their role, their response, and their impact. How myths are...

2. School-related Epidemiology

Teachers are inundated with professional development opportunities and requirements. It is critical that the impact of suicide on schools is clearly stated and there are data to support that impact. It is also important to include relevant information...

3. Risk and Protective Factors

Some factors increase the risk for suicidal behavior in youth. It is important that educators are aware of these risk factors and can identify them in youth. Additionally, it is important to understand that risk factors do not necessarily mean that one...

4. Warning Signs

It is critically important that trainers make a distinction between risk factors for suicide and warning signs for suicide. Educators need to be familiar with both, but it is this distinction that prompts the appropriate action steps. While it is important...

5. Review of School District Policies and Procedures

Beginning in school year 2015-2016, every school district in Pennsylvania is required to have a set of policies and procedures related to working with students at risk for suicide. It is important that educators are aware of their school district’s...

6. How Educators Can Respond to Youth about Whom They Are Concerned

Educators work with students with emotional and behavioral struggles on a daily basis. It is helpful to provide guidance on how best to respond and interact with youth with whom they are concerned. Remember their responses should be in sync with school...

7. Safe Messaging

Districts that are more aggressively taking steps to prevent suicide in their schools may engage in a variety of strategies. It is critical that educators and school personnel who are leading these initiatives are fully aware of current safe messaging...

8. Postvention

An effective postvention response is a critical component of school-based suicide prevention efforts. In the event that a student dies by suicide, educators need to understand their role and response to other students in the school district. Facilitators:...