Youth Suicide: A Special Problem in Need of Preventive Planning. AZ TAS Themes & Issues: A Series of Topical Papers on Special Education.

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) estimates that for every high school of 2,000 or more students in the United States, there is at least one successful suicide and thirty to fifty attempts each year. This report offers one state's examination of suicide and presents some effective responses to this problem. Discussed are those students most at risk, legal issues, guidelines for developing policies and procedures, and some general prevention strategies. Ten appendices include a sample suicide intervention model, typical distress signals, a profile of youth at high risk for depression, symptoms of depression, a lethality assessment, guidelines for responding to suicidal ideation, resources on the topic, and examples of crisis management training. Suicide prevention is falling more upon the schools and having an effective suicide prevention program in a school depends on the participation of students and parents in all aspects of the program. Schools should also enlist community support. Outside agencies can serve as consultants, referral sources, and trainers of staff and students. (RJM)