Student Suicide Prevention Protocol

In the case of an emergency, contact Massasoit Police at 911 from any on-campus landline phone or at (508) 427-1296.

I. 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, contact Massasoit Police at 911 from any on-campus landline phone or at (508) 427-1296.

II. 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."

III. Protocol

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

Is actively engaged in suicidal behavior;

Has engaged in suicidal behavior previously while enrolled at the College or recently before matriculation; or

Has stated plans or intentions to die by suicide, including active suicidal ideation with or without a specific plan and intent to act.

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 Massasoit Police at 911 from any on-campus landline phone or at (508) 427-1296.

Then contact the Vice President of Student Services and Enrollment Management (VPSSEM) at (508) 588-9100 x1415.

The VPSSEM, or their designee, may attempt to contact the student’s emergency contact of record or another emergency contact identified by the student, in accordance with FERPA’s health or safety emergency exception.

The College’s CARE Team, in consultation with Massasoit Police and VPSSEM, will determine an appropriate medical referral, help identify support strategies, and/or develop a follow-up action plan for the student.

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 VPSSEM at (508) 588-9100 x1415.

Based on the information received, the VPSSEM, or designee, shall determine whether the protocol should be activated. In doing so, the VPSSEM or designee may attempt to meet with the student and/or consult with the College’s CARE Team.

If the protocol is activated, the VPSSEM, or the designee, may attempt to contact the student’s emergency contact of record or another emergency contact identified by the student, in accordance with FERPA’s health or safety emergency exception.

The VPSSEM, or designee, may further consult with the College’s CARE Team to determine an appropriate medical referral, help identify support strategies, and/or develop a follow-up action plan for the student.

Active Suicidal Ideations With or Without 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 immediately contact Massasoit Police at 911 from any on-campus landline phone or at (508) 427-1296.

Then contact the Vice President of Student Services and Enrollment Management at (508) 588-9100 x1415.

Based on the information received, the VPSSEM, or designee, shall determine whether the protocol should be activated. In doing so, the VPSSEM or designee may attempt to meet with the student and/or consult with the College’s CARE Team.

If the protocol is activated, the VPSSEM, or the designee, may attempt to contact the student’s emergency contact of record or another emergency contact identified by the student, in accordance with FERPA’s health or safety emergency exception.

The VPSSEM, or designee, may further consult with the College’s CARE Team to determine an appropriate medical referral, help identify support strategies, and/or develop a follow-up action plan for the student.