The School Nurse Role in Youth Suicide Prevention: Results of a National Survey

Abstract

While school nurses are well-positioned to mitigate suicide risk in students, few studies have reported on their role in prevention. Using an online Qualtrics survey, school nurses (N = 1,283) from across the United States were surveyed to examine their role, practices, and interventions regarding youth suicide prevention. Findings reveal that varied and exclusive practices exist within K-12 schools. The majority of school nurses are not included in district suicide risk protocols or interdisciplinary mental health team meetings, and they also report a lack of communication and collaboration between them and other in-school clinicians. Despite this exclusivity, many school nurses identify students at risk and connect them to mental health services. District leaders are encouraged to leverage the skillset of school nurses as members of the mental health team by advocating for school nurse inclusivity in both district- and school-level suicide prevention and intervention policies and practices.