24 Hour Crisis Hotline/Listening Line | Need to talk? (401) 272-4044 or (800) 365-4044
FOR TEACHERS
“Don’t Stop Believing”
How To Talk To A Student
What to do
Important! Knowledge of a suicidal child falls under child endangerment and must be reported per RI law.
Please follow your school protocols for emergency planning. Not sure about your school’s plan? Have you seen it? Are you trained? Ask your principal for more information.
If a child presents as depressed or suicidal, please tell your school’s guidance department, nursing and student assistance program personnel. Get involved!
What is the first step I can take to help?
What a suicidal student most needs is to be listened to, not lectured or advised.
Don’t try to offer solutions or try to make them feel better. What a depressed or suicidal student most wants is to feel safe with you, to know that you can be trusted, to know that you care. He/she needs a person who will say, “I care” – and show it by not talking but by listening. Listen with sincerity and care, with interest and without judgment.
What should I say?
Begin by gently asking, “Is there something bothering you? I’ll be glad to listen.” The student might reveal something that happened at home, at work, school or in a relationship. You then might ask any of these questions:
- “How did that make you feel?”
- “Did that hurt your feelings?”
- “What are you feeling, right now, this very minute?”
- Remember; demonstrate that you can listen patiently.
What do I say next?
- Tell the student that you care.
- Tell the student that depression and related symptoms are treatable.
- Offer to go with them to the school guidance, nursing or student assistance services. It can be difficult to go alone.
- Tell them if at any time they do NOT feel safe to please call RI Emergency 911.
- IMMEDIATELY tell appropriate school staff of your conversation – follow school protocols.
- As an additional resource, Inform the student about The Samaritans of Rhode Island and the Teen Pages of this website to learn more about suicide prevention.
The Samaritans’ Role
The Samaritans maintains a 24-hour listening line staffed by trained volunteers.
Volunteers can offer nonjudgmental listening when family, friends and professionals are not available. Callers are welcome to call every day as long as we are needed.
Note: The Crisis Hotline/Listening Line is open 24/7 depending on the availability of volunteers.
NEGATIVE INFLUENCES
-the dark web
-music
-so called friends
Refer & Help Your Students
Medical Emergency Options
Please review our Emergency Checklist information: Click Here.
- Call 911 directly. Rescue will bring to nearest hospital for emergency assessment. It does not matter if you/they are insured or not.
- Walk into Hasbro Children’s Hospital for emergency assessment. Will also provide guidance on follow-up care and treatment.
- Call pediatrician, family doctor, or primary care facility.
- Be sure that hospital emergency room and primary care provider share medical information.
- Tell School Personnel – Principal, Vice Principal, School Nurse, School Counselor, Student Assistance Team.
- Continue to monitor child and keep family and professionals informed.
Follow up care and treatment services: All care should be coordinated with pediatrician, mental health specialist, and school personnel.
Important Numbers
Bradley Hospital (401) 434-3400
Butler Hospital (401) 455-6200
Mental Health Association of RI (401) 226-2285
Community mental health center according to community: www.mhari.org
RI Council of Resource Providers for Children, Youth, and Families: www.ricorp.net
(401) 431-0555
The Samaritans of RI Helpful Resources page.
Contains useful information suicide prevention. Young adult pages include information for youth, teens, parents, caregivers. Site also includes links to useful resources.
For information by City & Town, click here.
NEED TO TALK? Call a friend at THE SAMARITANS
(401) 272-4044 OR (401) 365-4044
Lesson Plans & Activities
Teaching about Suicide Prevention
The Samaritans of RI SAMs Teachers Manual
The Samaritans of RI Classroom Brochures - coming soon.
The World Health Organization (WHO) Preventing Suicide Resource Guide for Teachers
Other Classroom Activities
In order for students to build self esteem they need to know who they are and what is important and unique to themselves personally. Students also need to have a concrete way in which to express their value. These activities give students a chance to reflect on who they are and with some lessons, share that information in a fun way with the rest of the class. The following lesson plans are available for you to utilize in the classroom.
- What is Self Esteem? GR Level 6-12: Health, Compare/Contrast
- Helping Friends Who are Suicidal or Depressed GR Level 6 -12: Health, Reading
- I Can Be a Success! GR Level 6-12: Health, Language Arts, Making Predictions
- Success or Failure? GR Level 6-12: Health, Language Arts, Library
- Assessment Rubric
- Listing of Extended Activities for the classroom
