Adolescent suicide continues to be a significant public health problem throughout the world. In the midst of the pandemic and its aftermath, rates of adolescent suicide and attempts continue to increase. In this presentation, the Director of The Ohio State University Suicide Prevention Program and her colleague, a professor who works with public schools to help teach students how to manage anxiety to lower suicide risk, will discuss how to reintegrate students back into schools following a suicide crisis. The presenters have published widely on the topic of suicide, have presented over 400 times nationally and internationally on suicide prevention and intervention, and have co-authored a forthcoming book on Comprehensive Approaches to Suicide Programming in K-12 Schools (Oxford University Press, 2022).
Students who experience suicidal crises are often removed from the school setting. Returning to school following a mental health crisis can be difficult academically and very stressful interpersonally. This presentation will discuss how to develop a plan for reintegrating a student back into the school setting. Strategies for working together as a team to help students be successful academically and socially will be provided. The importance of school policy for students returning from a suicidal crisis will be discussed along with the need to create an environment that supports what the student has learned while in treatment. Finally, practical techniques and interventions will be shared that may help the student to readjust to the school setting, reduce the risk of escalation, and limit the potential for suicide contagion.

Paul F. Granello, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Counselor Education at the Ohio State University. He has secured over $3 million in grants to provide suicide prevention in Ohio. He has co-authored four books on suicide and another three books on wellness and resilience. In addition, he has published over 40 scientific articles in peer reviewed national journals and has authored 10 book chapters on suicide, anxiety, and wellness. Paul has given over 300 presentations at national, and international conferences and trainings. He is also a counselor in private mental health counseling practice in Worthington, Ohio.