Suicide notes. These are a very real sign of danger and should be taken seriously.

Threats. Threats may be direct ("I want to die." "I am going to kill myself.") or, unfortunately, indirect ("The world would be better without me." "Nobody will miss me anyway.").

Pervious attempts. Often the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior, which can indicate a coping style.

Depression. When symptoms of depression include pervasive thoughts of helplessness and hopelessness, a child or adolescent is conceivably at greater risk for suicide.

Masked depression. Risk-taking behaviors can include acts of aggression, gunplay, and alcohol/substance abuse.

Final arrangements. This behavior may take many forms. In adolescents, it might be giving away prized possessions such as jewelry, clothing, journals or pictures.

Efforts to hurt oneself. Self-mutilating behaviors occur among children as young as elementary school-age. Common self-destructive behaviors include running into traffic, jumping from heights, and scratching/cutting/marking the body.

Inability to concentrate or think rationally. Such problems may be reflected in children’s behavior, homework habits, academic performance, household chores, even conversation.

Changes in physical habits and appearance. Changes include inability to sleep or sleeping all the time, sudden weight gain or loss, disinterest in appearance, heigiene, etc.

Sudden changes in personality, friends, behaviors. Parents, teachers and peers are often the best observers of sudden changes in suicidal students.

Death and suicidal themes. These might appear in classroom drawings, work sample, journals or homework.

Plan/method/access. A suicidal child or adolescent may show an increased focus on guns and other weapons, increased access to guns, pills, etc., and/or may talk about or allude to a suicide plan.

Know the school’s responsibilities. Schools have been held liable in the courts for not warning the parents in a timely fashion or adequately supervising the suicidal student.

Encourage students to confide in you. Let students know that you are there to help, that you care. Encourage them to come to you if they or someone they know is considering suicide.

Refer student immediately. Do not "send" a student to the school psychologist or counselor.

Escort the child yourself to a member of the school’s crisis team. If a team has not been identified, notify the principal, psychologist, counselor, nurse or social worker. (And as soon as possible, request that your school organize a crisis team!)

Join the crisis team. You have valuable information to contribute so that the school crisis team can make an accurate assessment of risk.

Advocate for the child. Sometimes administrators may minimize risk factors and warning signs in a particular student. Advocate for the child until you are certain the child is safe.