Counseling Center Staff Suicide Protocol

DRAFT August 26, 1998

COLLEGE OF WILLIAM AND MARY SUICIDE PROTOCOL CHECKLIST FOR COUNSELING CENTER ON CALL STAFF

Situations that are life threatening:

______Assure that Rescue has been called and that student has been transported to ER.

______Notify Dean of Student’s Office and King Student Health Center.

______Student’s return from the hospital, including the ER, requires implementation of the suicide policy for clearance to return to campus, including but not limited to classes and student’s residence.

Situations needing assessment (Suicide threat, physical gestures, no drugs/alcohol):

______Upon contact by Campus Police, Residence Life, or other persons, on call counselor will follow up with phone call to student for an initial assessment.

______Check with referral source and student being assessed whether or not alcohol or other drugs have been ingested. If so, instruct referral source to immediately contact 911 for transport to the hospital.

______For current Counseling Center client of another therapist, on call counselor may choose to call the client’s therapist for consultation and/or delegation of assessment.

No immediate safety concern/no activation of the suicide protocol when telephone assessment has been completed:

______Confirm verbal “no harm” contract.

______Review on call and emergency (911) procedures.

______Arrange for next working day follow-up appointment at Counseling Center as needed.

______Make follow-up phone call to referral source within 24 hours to inform of disposition of situation. Referral source, depending upon the situation, may need follow-up at time of disposition.

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______Complete paperwork at office next day:

______Note student name and service hours on daily appointment schedule for date of contact.

______Complete crisis reports to be placed in file of current or previous Counseling Center clients.

______Complete crisis report and place in confidential memo book if “ new client.”

Activation of suicide protocol when telephone assessment has been completed:

Uncooperative student:

______If determined that the student needs to be further assessed under the suicide protocol and the student is uncooperative (refuses to voluntarily come to the King Student Health Center), notify Dean of Students Office on call staff for their administrative action/support to implement the suicide protocol.

Cooperative student who agrees to further assessment at the King Student Health Center:

______Contact physician on call (after hours use home phone before use of beeper) to arrange after hours opening of King Student Health Center. If during open hours, call front desk staff of Health Center and ask for the on call physician.

______Contact referral source to report disposition of on call telephone assessment and to arrange transportation/escort by Campus Police, Residence Life, or City Police (for off campus students).

______On call counselor will provide Counseling Center initial contact paperwork to be used in evaluation process: ______Counseling Center/Disclosure Statement ______Client Data Form ______Suicide Status Form (Optional) ______Information Release Form

Assessment at King Student Health Center:

______Consultation meeting with on call counselor, physician, referral source (if present) for factual account and assessment plan.

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______Student asked to complete Counseling Center initial contact paper work.

______Team assessment interview conducted by on call counselor and physician.

______Assessment team may request further diagnostic evaluation and consultation by psychiatrist on contract with the College (Dr. Steve Reams). Dr. Reams is expected on site for evaluation soon as possible but no less than 14 hours from being called. If he is not reached at his home or office numbers, contact his answering service and state the situation is an emergency.

______On call counselor contacts Dr. Reams.

Disposition:

No immediate safety concern/no activation of the suicide protocol when assessment has been completed; student is allowed to leave the King Student Health Center:

______Confirm verbal “no harm” contract or implement written “no harm” contract as appropriate.

______Review on call crisis procedures with client.

______Obtain a release of information for the DOS.

______Arrange for next working day follow-up appointment at the Counseling Center as appropriate. Inform DOS if student does not attend follow-up session.

______Arrange for additional referrals and appointments as needed, e.g., psychiatric evaluation for diagnosis or medication evaluation with Dr. Steve Reams or physician or psychologist of student’s choice.

______Make follow-up phone call to referral source within 24 hours to inform of disposition of situation. Referral source, depending upon the situation, may need follow-up at time of the disposition.

______If referral source is Residence Life, discuss need for any follow-up contact with roommates, other students.

______Physician notifies Dean of Students Office of outcome of assessment.

______Contact the Dean of Students Office Monday – Friday at 8:00 AM following the Health Center evaluation. No need to notify during the weekend. DO NOT leave a message on voice mail.

______Send copy of crisis reports to attending physician next day in sealed envelope marked confidential either hand delivered or by Campus Mail.

______Notify the Counseling Center Director next weekday morning. No need to notify during the weekend.

Activation of Suicide Policy after assessment is completed:

______On call counselor and physician have agreed to place the student under the suicide policy.

______Attending physician contacts Dean of Students Office on call staff.

______Attending physician contacts parents. Exceptions can only be made by the DOS.

______On call counselor contacts the referral source for follow-up.

______Dean of Students on call staff contacts Residence Life (if not referral source and if student resides on campus) regarding student not being allowed on campus until cleared by the medical team.

______Refer to King Student Health Center checklist for management of student safety pending student’s clearance to return to campus, classes and on campus housing.

______Attending physician coordinates arrangements for “disposition meeting.”

______After hours and weekends contact the Dean of Students by using home telephone number first.

______Use beeper if no answer at home telephone. If Dean of Students is out-of-town, Dean of Students on call staff will have the beeper. If no response, contact the Vice President of Student Affairs.

After Disposition under Suicide Policy:

______Make follow-up phone call to referral source to inform of disposition of situation.

______If referral source is Residence Life, discuss need for any follow-up contact with roommates, other students.

______Inform Counseling Center Director of all situations where a student is evaluated at the Health Center. Weekends or after hours call any time as needed for consultation. To inform only weekends call after 7:00 AM; weekdays 8:00 Am at office.

______Complete crisis reports to be placed in file of current or previous Counseling Center clients.

______Send copy of evaluation report to attending physician next day in sealed envelope marked confidential either hand delivered or by Campus Mail.

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