Self-Harm and Attempted Suicide Response

Responding to, and managing, an incident of self-harm impacting a school

Response activities – responding to an onsite incident

The SAFEMinds Responding to Self-harm in Schools flowchart provides a step-by-step process to guide schools when responding to incidents of self-harm.

Immediate action required

• Ensure safety. School staff have a duty of care to support students and to take all reasonable steps to keep all students and staff safe.
• Implement the school’s Emergency Management Plan (EMP).
• Contact relevant emergency services as appropriate (000).
• Contact the department’s Incident Support and Operations Centre (ISOC) on 1800 126 126. The ISOC will record the incident report using the Incident Report and Information System (IRIS) and a copy of the summary report will automatically be emailed to the school principal and to relevant areas in central office and the region.

For more information, refer to Reporting incidents in my school (staff login required).

If a staff member witnesses an incident, receives a disclosure or forms a reasonable belief that a child has been, or is being, abused they must follow the Four Critical Actions for Schools (PDF).

Responding to a self-harm incident that is not an emergency

Where an incident occurs during a school activity, regardless of where the incident occurs, staff have a duty of care to take steps to prevent harm to everyone in the environment. This includes all school settings, excursions and camps.

Actions required

• Where possible move the student to a safe environment where further enquiry can occur in a sensitive manner that respects their privacy and reduces vicarious trauma impacts to students and staff.
• Once the student is in a safe environment, request that the student hand over any instrument that may assist them to self-harm. If they refuse, contact the appropriate emergency services to ensure safety of the student and staff. Do not try to disarm the student against their will as this may result in you being injured as well. For more information, refer to: Restraint and Seclusion.
• If possible, arrange for the student to apply first aid immediately under supervision of an appropriate staff member (for example, school nurse or trained first aid officer) if required. It is beneficial to encourage the student to apply first aid, such as dressing wounds themselves, as this encourages self-care rather than self-harm. Encouraging the student to cover their wounds, regardless of severity, is recommended to reduce distress among students.
• Notify the leadership team. It is a requirement of the department that all incidents of self-harm, suicidal ideation and attempted suicides are reported to ISOC 1800 126 126.
• Contact parents or carers unless circumstances indicate that this should not occur. It is essential that this contact be approached with sensitivity and compassion. In most instances, this communication is best undertaken by a member of the wellbeing team, SSS or a member of the leadership team. Although students may be concerned about the school making contact with their parent/carers, all occasions of self-harm must be shared with parents/carers in order to promote safety and accessing appropriate supports.
• Seek advice and professional assistance from SSS. Support and advice is also available from headspace or Beyond Blue, Child and Youth Mental Health Services (CYMHS) or Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). For more information, refer to: Child and adolescent mental health services.
• Get assistance to follow up on the safety and wellbeing of students who may have witnessed or have reported the self-harm.
• An appropriately trained staff member or professional (for example, a MHP, staff trained in youth mental health, SSS psychologist or social worker, Doctors in Secondary Schools Program GP, Secondary School Nurse, an external mental health professional, GP or hospital-based doctor or psychologist) should undertake a suicide risk assessment. If no suitably trained staff are available, the student’s parents or carers should be directed to have an assessment completed at hospital or by a community-based practitioner immediately.
• Make recommendations for referral for mental health support either within the school (appropriately trained wellbeing staff or SSS) or external to the school as appropriate (for example, headspace, CYMHS or CAMHS). If the student has an existing relationship with a MHP, encourage the student and/or their parent/carer to inform them of the incident. Alternatively, obtain consent from the student for the school to communicate directly with the clinician.
• Consider a Worksafe Notification (13 23 60).
• Ensure there is a debrief for all staff involved in responding to the incident and that they are provided with information about self-care and the supports available to them.
• Consider what post-incident follow-up is required, including ongoing support for staff and students.

Supporting resource

A safety plan template is available on the resources tab.

Responding to a self-harm incident that requires immediate emergency assistance

Some instances of self-harm require urgent medical attention.

In the school environment, an urgent response is required if the student:

• has taken an overdose or consumed poison – refer to, Victorian Poisons Information Centre (131 126)
• is confused, disoriented or unconscious
• has bleeding that is rapid or pulsing.

Some actions may occur simultaneously, as staff take on different responsibilities.

Actions required

• Call an ambulance (000) immediately.
• Take all reasonable steps to ensure the safety of all concerned, including requesting that the student hand over any instrument that may assist them to self-harm. Do not try to disarm the student against their will – this may result in you being injured. In the event they refuse, contact the appropriate emergency services to ensure safety of the student and staff. For more information, refer to: Restraint and Seclusion.
• Do not leave the class unattended to coordinate additional support for the student who has self-harmed. Use the school’s existing emergency alert processes (for example, use your mobile phone to call for help and/or send 2 other students together to seek help).
• Do not send the self-harming student anywhere alone. This includes to the school nurse. If you are on yard duty, call for help using your mobile phone or, where this is not available, send two other students together to get help from the nurse or another member of staff.
• Stay with the student until you secure other adult supervision.
• Get assistance to check on the safety and wellbeing of students who may have witnessed or informed staff of the incident.
• Notify the leadership team. It is a requirement of the department that all incidents of self-harm, suicidal ideation and attempted suicides are reported to ISOC 1800 126 126.
• Contact parents or carers. This contact requires sensitivity and compassion. Refer to Communicating with parents/carers for more information and suggestions regarding how to manage this communication. In most circumstances, a member of the school leadership or wellbeing team will manage this communication.
• Seek advice and professional assistance from SSS. Support and advice is also available from headspace, CYMHS or CAMHS. For more information, refer to: Child and adolescent mental health services.
• Consider a Worksafe Notification (13 23 60).
• Ensure there is a debrief for all staff involved in responding to the incident and that they are provided with information about self-care and the supports available to them.
• Consider the post-incident follow-up that is required, including ongoing support for staff and students.

Supporting resource

A safety plan template is available in the resources tab.