Suicide Protocol and Policy

The College recognizes that a student’s physical, behavioral, and emotional health is an integral component of a student’s academic success at the College.  The purpose of the protocol is to protect the health and well-being of all students by having procedures in place to identify, assess the risk of, intervene in, and respond to suicidal behavior.  The policy is activated when the College has actual knowledge that a student is actively engaged in suicidal behavior, has previously engaged in suicidal behavior while enrolled at the College or recently before matriculation, or has stated plans or intentions to complete suicide.  A student who engages in any of these behaviors may be required to meet with the Dean of Students before being permitted to resume classes.  The Student Suicide Prevention Protocol is administered by the Dean of Student’s Office.

STUDENT SUICIDE PREVENTION PROTOCOL

PURPOSE

The purpose of this protocol is to provide education and guidance to faculty, staff, students, and other members of the College community to help prevent student suicide. All suicidal behavior or threats should be taken seriously and immediately referred in accordance with this protocol. In the case of an emergency, please dial 911 or contact Campus Police immediately at 978-630-9111 (off-campus) or X1111 (on-campus phone).

DEFINITIONS

Suicide: Death from an injury which is self-inflicted and by which the student intended to kill him/herself.

Suicidal Behavior: Any potentially injurious behavior which is self-inflicted and by which a student intends, or gives the appearance of intending, to kill himself or herself.

Suicidal Ideation:  Any self-reported thoughts or feelings about engaging in suicidal behavior.

Suicide Plan: A proposed method of self-inflicted injury through which the potential and intentional outcome is death.

Active Suicidal Ideation with Specific Plan and Intent to Act: Thoughts of killing oneself with details of plan fully or partially worked out and student has some intent to carry it out.

Active Suicidal Ideation with Some Intent to Act, without Specific Plan: Active suicidal thoughts of killing oneself and student reports having some intent to act on such thoughts, as opposed to “I have the thoughts but I definitely will not do anything about them.”

Actual Knowledge: The direct and clear awareness of a fact or circumstance, as opposed to constructive (inferred or implied) knowledge.  What a person "must have known" as opposed to "should have known." 

PROTOCOL

This Protocol shall be followed in the event a College employee has actual knowledge that a student:

  1. Is actively engaged in suicidal behavior;
  2. Has engaged in suicidal behavior previously while enrolled at the College or recently before matriculation;[1] or
  3. Has stated plans or intentions to commit suicide, including active suicidal ideation with specific plan and intent to act or active suicidal ideation with some intent to act, without a specific plan.

Where the College has actual knowledge that a student has engaged in suicidal behavior and is currently hospitalized, these protocols shall be activated (under procedures for Previous Suicidal Behavior) in the event the student seeks to return to the College.

Active Suicidal Behavior

  • Any member of the College community who has actual knowledge that a student is actively engaged in suicidal behavior shall immediately contact Campus Police at 978-630-9111 or X1111 (all hours).
  • Contact the Dean of Students immediately at 978-630-9855 (college business hours).
  • If the Dean of Students if not available, Campus Police will provide proper notification.
  • The Dean of Students (or designee) shall attempt to contact the student's emergency contact of record or another emergency contact identified by the student.
  • A student who has engaged in active suicidal behavior shall be required to be assessed by a licensed mental health professional and provide documentation to the Dean of Students office upon return. Documentation will be reviewed by the Dean of Students (or designee) and/or the College's CARE Team.

Previous Suicidal Behavior

  • Any member of the College community who has actual knowledge that a student has engaged in suicidal behavior while enrolled at the College or recently before matriculating shall contact the Dean of Students immediately at 978-630-9855 (college business hours).
  • If the Dean of Students if not available, please contact Campus Police 978-630-9111 or X1111 (all hours) who will provide proper notification and response.
  • Based on the information received, the Dean of Students (or designee) shall determine whether the protocol should be activated. In doing so the Dean (or designee) may attempt to meet with the student and/or consult with the CARE Team.
  • If the protocol is activated, the Dean of Students (or designee) shall attempt to contact the student's emergency contact of record or another emergency contact identified by the student.
  • The Dean of Students (or designee) may further consult with the CARE Team to determine an appropriate medical referral, help identify support strategies, and/or develop a follow-up action plan for the student.  
  • When it is determined that a student has engaged in suicidal behavior while enrolled at the College or recently before matriculating, the student shall be required to be assessed by a licensed mental health professional and provide documentation to the Dean of Students prior to returning to classes. Documentation will be reviewed by the Dean of Students, or designee, and/or the College’s CARE Team.

Active Suicidal Ideations with Stated Plans or Intentions

  • Any member of the College community who has actual knowledge that a student has stated plans or intentions to engage in suicidal behavior shall contact the Dean of Students immediately at 978-630-9855 (college business hours).         
  • If the Dean of Students if not available, please contact Campus Police 978-630-9111 or X1111 (all hours) who will provide proper notification and response.
  • Based on the information received, the Dean of Students (or designee) shall determine whether the protocol should be activated. In doing so the Dean (or designee) may attempt to meet with the student and/or consult with the CARE Team. 
  • When it is determined that a student has engaged in suicidal behavior while enrolled at the College or recently before matriculating, the student shall be required to be assessed by a licensed mental health professional and provide documentation to the Dean of Students prior to returning to classes. Documentation will be reviewed by the Dean of Students, or designee, and/or the College’s CARE Team.
  • The Dean of Students (or designee) may further consult with the CARE Team to determine an appropriate medical referral, help identify support strategies, and/or develop a follow-up action plan for the student.  
  • When it is determined that a student has stated plans or intentions to engage in suicidal behavior, the student shall be required to be assessed by a licensed mental health professional and provide documentation to the Dean of Students prior to returning to classes. Documentation will be reviewed by the Dean of Students, or designee, and/or the College’s CARE Team.