What To Do If Your Student Threatens Self-harm?

Each day, we encounter many students each with vastly differing needs. What needs are most serious? How do we prioritize them? I've noticed on the news recently that some student cries for help are overlooked or missed. The result of missing the early warning signs and not having a plan to address self-injury can be catastrophic. 

Cutting is a common form of self-injury

Self-Injury: A Definition 

"When an individual inflicts harm to his or her body purposefully, for reasons not recognized or sanctioned socially and without the obvious intent of committing suicide." - Janis Whitlock, PhD, MPH 

Does your school have a plan for responding when a student self-injures or threatens self-harm? 

• What happens when a student makes self-injury threats?
• Which staff members are involved?
• What is school/district policy? (i.e. does student need to be psychologically evaluated before they return)
• Do you have treatment or provider services you can refer them to?
• What is the follow-up when the student returns back to school?
• Who contacts parents?

I asked myself, "what do we do to prevent, address and act on self-injury in the school." Currently, we have a weekly meeting that deals with crisis issues at our school. We assembled a crisis team that consists of the principal, assistant principal, school counselors, attendance teachers, parent coordinator, and the school dean. In the event a student threatens self-harm, each member of our team is notified immediately and we take the following steps to ensure the student is safe:

1. The student is removed from their class and EMS is contacted. (Address medical needs)
2. The student is taken by EMS for an evaluation and the parent is notified. (Assess suicide risk & contact the caregiver) 
3. Depending on the circumstances of the case, ACS may be called to intervene. (If necessary, contact child protective services)
4. The student is referred to mental health services in the community  (Refer and/or coordinate care) 
5. The students is not allowed to return to school without documentation from a doctor or licensed professional, and their is plan established with the counselors to work with the students once they return. 
6. Establish a communication plan with the parent to ensure the student is receiving the support they need outside of school.


Helpful Links

Self-injury Protocol Resource from Educators and Self Injury

It's also great to have a list of community resources that you can refer and coordinate care for your students. If your school doesn't have one and in the New York City area, www.jbfcs.org has community mental health clinics located throughout the city. If you are in NY, the NYS Office of Mental Health has a directory Find a provider in NYS for your student.