School boards in the Leduc area have added a suicide and traumatic event response to their more-than-a-decade-long commitment to risk assessment protocol. Black and Gold School Division student services director Niki Gill says the additions allow administration to be proactive and “build trust.” The Leduc area’s original Violence Threat Risk Assessment (VTRA) and Intervention Protocol was first created in 2014 and has been recommitted three times now. “What we did (Thursday) was formalize it into a three-part protocol, which really just holds us accountable and ensures that new folks know what to do and promises the public what we will do,” Gills explained. This type of protocol is the third of its kind in Canada and was first introduced in Strathcona County as a violence, trauma and suicide prevention protocol. “We had protocol envy, so we decided to move in this direction as well because it made good sense,” Gill said. “Let’s imagine a young person is showing us that they are moving on a pathway to violence, which is kind of the big question that we’re examining. Mental health is here. RCMP is here. Children’s services are here … You really do need a wraparound family support when a child is having a problem.” With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Noah Rishaug
