Suicide Prevention Training for Schools

In 2019, the Arizona State legislature passed ARS 15-120, known as the Mitch Warnock Act, mandating all public school staff be trained in suicide prevention. The statute states that AHCCCS will annually post approved suicide prevention training materials.

The law went into effect at the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year and mandates that all school staff who interact with students in grades 6 through 12 must receive suicide prevention training at least once every three years. Per the statute, the training must include:

  1. Training in suicide prevention,
  2. Training to identify the warning signs of suicidal behavior in adolescents and teens, and
  3. Appropriate intervention and referral techniques.

AHCCCS, in coordination with the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) and Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS), have selected the following school suicide prevention training options for this school year, 2024-2025. School administrators can choose from these suicide prevention training materials as they work toward meeting the statute’s requirements:

Additionally, the Mitch Warnock Act stipulates that each school must provide its staff with information on its specific intervention and referral procedures. Jake’s Law requires that schools have a policy for behavioral health referrals and a process for obtaining parental consent, and post it on their website. The Arizona School Board Association has created a policy with assistance from AHCCCS and ADE to assist school districts with the statutory requirements for Jake’s Law. Once suicide prevention training is provided, school administrators shall provide staff with specific processes and procedures, outlined in their school policy, for crisis intervention and behavioral health referral. Once school staff have been trained in identifying the warning signs of suicidal behavior, it’s critical that they know the appropriate next steps to take per each schools unique process. School administrators should also provide information for local resources such as crisis line numbers. Information about the school’s referral process and important numbers should be displayed in common areas, such as a teacher lounge, as a constant reminder.

Beginning in 2023, new criteria were added by ADE and AHCCCS to allow for additional trainings to be reviewed and considered for inclusion on the approved list of trainings. The revised criteria for new (not previously approved) curriculum to be reviewed are the following:

  • Standardized, including documentation of training materials prohibiting facilitators from deviating from the sources of material, and has fidelity between the program and trainings,
  • Geared toward professional and support staff, and relevant to school settings,
  • Provides adequate time dedicated to the training, with a minimum of two hours,
  • Is supported by organizations such as and not limited to the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention (AFSP) or similar.
  • Review to determine if this set of criteria was met for additional trainings was conducted by a third-party evaluator.
  • Without current best practice registry or other standard guidance, “Evidence-Based Practice” will depend on how ADHS, AHCCCS & ADE defines it.
Image of Medications

New Suicide Prevention Training for Arizona School Mental Health Professionals

School mental health professionals play a critical role in keeping students safe, often being the first to identify when a student is at risk. Yet, their role is too often overlooked in safety planning. To address this need, The Jed Foundation (JED) and the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) have partnered to create a two-hour, eight-module online training that equips school counselors, social workers, psychologists, nurses, and other school personnel with the tools to:

  • Recognize the mental health continuum and common mental health challenges Arizona students face.
  • Engage in supportive conversations with students that recognize and respect cultural backgrounds across Arizona communities, ensuring all feel valued.
  • Describe how schools and communities can work together as a student support team to improve student mental health, and define your role on the team.
  • Identify signs of self-injury and crisis, including signs of suicidal thoughts or intense emotional distress.
  • Understand the role of suicide risk screening in a comprehensive prevention approach and learn how to administer screening tools.
  • Take action when a student is in crisis by engaging the support team, ensuring immediate safety, and documenting and following school protocols (or helping to establish protocols, when needed).

This 2-hour scenario-based course provides practical, real-world applications, helping school professionals build confidence in supporting students and strengthening school safety.

Important Information Before You Begin

Culturally Relevant Supplement

On January 9, 2024, AHCCCS introduced a culturally relevant supplement to the evidence-based practice curriculum list. The culturally relevant supplement curriculum has its origin from the indigenous nations’ cultures and traditions and meets the criteria below. AHCCCS currently has one curriculum, “Mind 4 Health”, on the culturally relevant supplement section. The criteria states:

  • Without current best practice registry or other standard guidance, “Evidence-Based Practice” will depend on how ADHS, AHCCCS & ADE defines it,
  • Is supported by organizations such as the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board (NWPAIHB) and the Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona (ITCA) recognized and reputable within Indigenous nations,
  • Geared toward professional and support staff, and relevant to school settings,
  • Provides adequate time dedicated to the training, with a minimum of 1:30 hours,and
  • A workgroup consensus of AHCCCS, ADE, & ADHS representatives will approve the curriculum.

To download the curriculum text MIND4HEALTH to 6566.

AHCCCS, ADE, and ADHS evaluated additional suicide prevention training material and expanded the list for the 2023-2024 school year. The above list of suicide prevention training materials is scheduled to be posted on this webpage every year. For submissions of curriculum for consideration, BHInSchools@azahcccs.gov.

The Arizona Department of Education provides suicide prevention training for school staff and community members. While the Arizona Department of Education will prioritize the training of school staff, ADE also offers training to community members across the state. If your school or district is interested in more information on receiving a training from ADE, please visit the ADE Suicide Prevention Webpage.

More resources for schools:

Revised 02/05/2024