(3)  The department shall provide resources to district school boards that may assist districts in preparing the annual guidance report. The resources shall include, but are not limited to, materials relating to guidance model programs, training available through the department for career guidance, adopted best practices, alternative guidance systems or ideas, and a model district guidance plan.

(1) By July 1, 2019, the Department of Education, in consultation with the Statewide Office for Suicide Prevention and suicide prevention experts, shall develop a list of approved youth suicide awareness and prevention training materials and suicide screening instruments that may be used for training in youth suicide awareness, suicide prevention, and suicide screening for instructional personnel in elementary school, middle school, and high school. The approved list of materials:

(b) Must include training on how to identify appropriate mental health services and how to refer youth and their families to those services.

(1) Beginning with the 2018-2019 school year, the Department of Education shall establish an evidence-based youth mental health awareness and assistance training program to help school personnel identify and understand the signs of emotional disturbance, mental illness, and substance use disorders and provide such personnel with the skills to help a person who is developing or experiencing an emotional disturbance, mental health, or substance use problem.

(2) The Department of Education shall select a national authority on youth mental health awareness and assistance to facilitate providing youth mental health awareness and assistance training, using a trainer certification model, to all school personnel in elementary, middle, and high schools. Each school safety specialist shall earn, or designate one or more individuals to earn, certification as a youth mental health awareness and assistance trainer. The school safety specialist shall ensure that all school personnel within his or her school district receive youth mental health awareness and assistance training.

(3) The training program shall include, but is not limited to:

(a) An overview of mental illnesses and substance use disorders and the need to reduce the stigma of mental illness.

(b) Information on the potential risk factors and warning signs of emotional disturbance, mental illness, or substance use disorders, including, but not limited to, depression, anxiety, psychosis, eating disorders, and self-injury, as well as common treatments for those conditions and how to assess those risks.

(c) Information on how to engage at-risk students with the skills, resources, and knowledge required to assess the situation, and how to identify and encourage the student to use appropriate professional help and other support strategies, including, but not limited to, peer, social, or self-help care.

(4) Each school district shall notify all school personnel who have received training pursuant to this section of mental health services that are available in the school district, and the individual to contact if a student needs services. The term “mental health services” includes, but is not limited to, community mental health services, health care providers, and services provided under ss. 1006.04 and 1011.62(16).

This webpage links to resources to provide guidance for districts completing and submitting their annual Mental Health Assistance Allocation Plans, including a template, checklist, and best practices.