b'The principal, designee, or school mental health professional shall inform the students parent or guardian on the same school day, or as soon as possible, any time a student is identified as having any level of risk for suicide or if the student has made a suicide attempt (pursuant to school/state codes, unless notifying the parent will put the student at increased risk of harm). Following parental notification and based on initial risk assessment, the principal, designee, or school mental health professional may offer recommendations for next steps based on perceived student need. These can include but are not limited to, an additional, external mental health evaluation conducted by a qualified health professional or emergency service provider. When a student indicates suicidal intent, schools shall attempt to discuss safety at home, or means safety with parent or guardian, limiting the students access to mechanisms for carryingout a suicide attempt e.g., guns, knives, pills, etc. In addition, during means counseling, which can also include safety planning, it is imperative to ask parents whether or not the individual has access to a firearms, medication or other lethal means.Lethal means counseling shall include discussing the following 5 : FirearmsInquire of the parent or guardian if firearms are kept in the home or are otherwise accessible to the studentRecommend that parents store all guns away from home while the student is strugglinge.g., following state laws, store their guns with a relative, gun shop, or policeDiscuss parents concerns and help problem-solve around offsite storage, and avoid a negative attitude about gunsaccept parents where they are, but let them know offsite storage is an effective, immediate way to protect the studentExplain that in-home locking is not as safe as offsite storage, as children and adolescents sometimes find the keys or get past the locksIf there are no guns at home:Ask about guns in other residences (e.g., joint custody situation, access to guns in the homes of friends or other family members) If parent wont or cant store offsite:The next safest option is to unload guns, lock them in a gun safe, and lock ammunition separately (or dont keep ammunition at home for now)If guns are already locked, ask parents to consider changing the combination or key locationparents can be unaware that the student may know their hiding placesMedicationsRecommend the parent or guardian lock up all medications (except rescue meds like inhalers), either witha traditional lock box or a daily pill dispenserRecommend disposing of expired and unneeded medications, especially prescription pain pillsRecommend parent maintain possession of the students medication, only dispensing one dose at a timeunder supervisionModel School District Policy on Suicide Prevention | Model Language, Commentary, and Resources 8'