Guidelines for responding to suicidal students
Confidentiality versus health and safety
If a student expresses suicidal thoughts or has made plans then staff
should take the following action. Students may ask for confidentiality
under these circumstances, however health and safety considerations
override a commitment to confidentiality, which can be broken if there
is a risk that someone might harm others or themselves.
Assessing intent
If the student says they are feeling like committing suicide or feeling
suicidal it is appropriate to check their intentions by asking if they have
actively made plans to kill themselves. Be assured it will not increase
the likelihood that they will commit suicide if you ask them this direct
question.

If the student has actively made plans, or you have any concern
that they will try to take their own life, you must take action as
outlined below.

If the student says they haven't made plans and don't intend to act
on their suicidal thoughts, but are feeling deeply distressed, you
should recommend that they speak to their GP or their mental
health professional (if they have one). You can also offer contact
details for the university counselling service and the mental health
adviser.
If you feel unable to deal with this situation please ensure that you refer
the student immediately to your manager or a senior member of staff.
Taking action
By telephone or face to face
If the student says they have actively made plans, or you have any
concern that they will try to take their own life, you must take action.

If you have access to SITs check if the student has declared
mental health as a disability.

If yes, advise the student that you are going to contact the mental
health adviser. If you are unable to contact the mental health
adviser alert the Head of Student Support or another Senior
member of staff in student Support.

If no, or you don’t have access to SITs advise the student that they
should contact their GP, their mental health professional (if they
have one) or attend A and E and inform the mental health adviser.

If the student tells you that they see the mental health adviser
regularly check if you can make them an urgent appointment.

If the student is not prepared to seek help then alert the mental
health adviser.

In the absence of the mental health adviser alert the Head of
Student Support or other Senior Manager immediately so they can
respond.

The Mental Health Adviser, Head of Student Support or other
Senior Manager will contact the student to assess the situation
and refer to the Crisis Team if necessary.
If the student is demonstrating an active intent to commit suicide on
campus contact emergency services on 999. Inform the Head of
Security and the Head of Student Support or other Senior Manager.
You should tell the student what you are doing and why.
Email messages
Where the student expresses suicidal thoughts in an email, then you
should respond to their e-mail immediately and advise them that you
intend to alert the mental health adviser who will make contact with
them.

If the mental health advisor is not available you should advise the
student that they should contact their GP or their mental health
professional (if they have one) or attend A and E.

If the student is not prepared to seek help then alert the Head of
Student Support or other Senior Manager immediately so they can
respond.

The Head of Student Support or other Senior Manager will contact
the student to assess the situation and refer to the Crisis Team if
necessary.
You should tell the student what you are doing and why.
Online forums
Where a message is posted on Breo or a university wiki or blog that is
moderated by staff, the moderator should contact the student by
telephone and follow the procedures outlined above. If the moderator
feels unable to deal with this situation then they should refer the
student immediately to their manager or a senior member of staff.
If the post is anonymous then the moderator should post information
on the site about support for a student experiencing suicidal thoughts.
The suggested wording would be: If you are in distress and feeling that
life is difficult to cope with at present please make contact with your GP
or contact Samarian on http://www.samaritans.org or by phone on
08457 909090
As with other inappropriate postings, the message should be removed
as soon as possible. Reassure other students by adding an
appropriate message stating: “for those who read the posting from [X]
on [date], the situation is being dealt with offline”.
University sites using Facebook will be able tell Samaritans through
Facebook's Help Centre, where they can report specific content such
as status updates or wall posts. Typing the word "worried" into the help
centre search engine will bring up a list of places to find advice as well
as the option to report suicidal content. Once a report about suicidal
content has been processed by the Facebook team, the distressed
person will be sent a message with information on how they can
contact the Samaritans if they need help.
The message will protect the identity of the person reporting their
concerns and will read: "Someone is concerned about your well-being.
Facebook has an agreement with Samaritans and we have sent them
your email address so they can contact you within 12 hours. You can
speak to them in confidence."
Debrief
Ensure that the events are reported to your line manager as soon as
possible, and schedule in some time to talk the matter through. It is
important to take care of your own mental health if you have been
affected by the situation.
Contact details
Jill Gale
Mental Health Adviser
01582 489391
Jill.gale@beds.ac.uk
Counselling Service
Bedford Campus
01234 793333
counsellingbedford@beds.ac.uk
Luton Campus
01582 489338
counselling@beds.ac.uk
Further information
The Samaritans
Website: http://www.samaritans.org/
Phone: UK 08457 909090
Email:
jo@samaritans.org
CALM
Campaign against living miserably
Website: www.thecalmzone.net
Phone: 0800 585858
Raises awareness of depression amongst young men to reduce
suicide risk.
Choose Life
Website: http://www.chooselife.net
Breathing Space Scotland
A confidential phone line service for anyone who is experiencing low
mood or depression, or who is unusually worried and needs to talk.
Website: http://www.breathingspacescotland.co.uk/bspace/119.html
Phone: 0800 838587
Befrienders Worldwide
Work worldwide to provide emotional support and reduce suicide.
Website: http://www.befrienders.org/index.asp
Papyrus
UK national charity dedicated to the prevention of suicide and the
promotion of positive mental health and emotional wellbeing in young
people.
http://www.papyrus-uk.org/
HOPELineUK 0800 0684141