Suicide is the third leading cause of death for teenagers and young adults. Although young women attempt suicide more often than young men, men account for nearly three-quarters of suicides. Often, people contemplating suicide will show a marked personality change, increase use of drugs and alcohol, and/or withdraw from family, friends, and activities.
Job Corps sees a relatively low number of suicides. However, staff must be diligent in recognizing the warning signs of this highly preventable cause of death.
This webpage contains resources to prevent bullying on center, including:
- Core Components for a successful suicide-prevention initiative
- A six-module suicide prevention training is available in Citrix (see
SafetyNet for instructions) for Job Corps staff. This training will teach you all about suicide prevention. After you successfully complete the associated quiz, you will earn a certificate.
- A
Critical Incident Crisis Intervention Plan page.
- A documents section that contains sample presentations, articles, scenarios, fact sheets, and brochures
- Web resources for additional information
Policy & Directives
Job Corps Policy
Program Instruction
Information Notices
Core Components
Every center is responsible for implementing a suicide prevention program that is supported by the Center Director and administration. At a minimum, a successful suicide prevention program should have the following core components:
Planning
- Conduct focus groups with students/staff about suicide attempts and threats on center and what a center-wide suicide prevention program would look like.
- Identify potential gatekeepers (staff members in a position to prevent suicide).
- Develop and adopt center-wide polices regarding responses to suicide attempts and threats and post suicide attempts and suicides.
- Improve use of SIR system and evaluate suicide attempts and threats.
- Identify and strengthen current mechanisms used for early identification of applicants and/or students who may need mental health support and/or are at risk for suicidal behavior (e.g. review of ETA 6-53, administration and review of the Social Intake Form (SIF), etc.
- Improve access to and community linkages with mental health and substance abuse services for referrals.
Training Activities
- All staff will participate in suicide prevention training.
- All students will receive training on suicide awareness and prevention.
- Hold assemblies or dormitory meetings that focus on suicide awareness and prevention designed to stimulate center-wide cultural change that suicide is preventable and encourages help-seeking behavior.
- Participate in National Suicide Prevention Week (typically in September) with special activities and/or speakers.
- Contact federal, state, or local agencies for posters and brochures on suicide prevention.
Environmental Activities
- Reduce access to lethal means of self-harm, including alcohol and drugs through security checks when students leave and return to center.
- Monitor buildings that may be vacant on center and areas in remote locations on center.
- Ensure students have access to suicide prevention help lines and/or center staff trained in suicide prevention.
Forms & Documents
Factsheets and Brochures
Safety Planning with Students
- Stanley-Brown Safety Plan
The Stanley-Brown Safety Plan is copyrighted by Barbara Stanley, PhD & Gregory K. Brown, PhD (2008, 2021). Individual use of the Stanley-Brown Safety Plan form is permitted. Written permission from the authors is required for any changes to this form or use of this form in the electronic medical record. Additional resources are available from www.suicidesafetyplan.com. - Suicide Safety Plan — Inquiry Health LLC
Mobile app available for iPhone and Android
Staff Training Slides
Webinars
