School friends sitting together and laughing stock photo
SAFESIDE SCHOOLS

Connect. Learn. Support. Prevent.

Many students today face moments of deep struggle, and schools are on the front lines of support. With SafeSide, educators gain the tools and confidence to meet these challenges—building resilience, fostering connection, and creating a shared approach that helps every student feel seen, supported, and safe.

This video from SafeSide CARE demonstrates collaborative safety planning with a young person named Kai, showing how a counsellor can help identify specific triggers and develop concrete coping strategies using their support network during crisis moments.

Core Connections Testimonials

A low-stakes, high-reward experience...The activities were fun and then made direct connections to Four Cores strengths in our lives.

Math Teacher

The importance of balance, not just for our own well-being, but to make us better at serving our students.

School Psychologist

The value and respect they placed on the participants as educators, being in a high-stress job. I felt listened to and heard.

Teacher

Allows you to connect with your peers on a different level...It helped strengthen bonds, allows me to reflect on my own personal life, and gather ideas on how I can improve my wellbeing.

Teacher

What matters most

Being prepared to respond with confidence and care

Everyone has a role to play — it starts with knowing what to do. SafeSide Schools unites teachers, coaches, aides, and staff with one shared approach.

Core Connections

Proven to strengthen team cohesion, reduce suicide risk, and decrease disciplinary problems.

SafeSide CARE

A tiered approach creates a shared language and clear, role-specific actions so every adult knows how to respond.

Policy and Documentation

Best practices ensure consistent, evidence-based suicide prevention across your district.

Jonathan Singer is a social work professor at Loyola University, co-author of Suicide in Schools, and past president of the American Association of Suicidology. Here, he explains why practicing student engagement skills matters — and why feeling uncomfortable at first is simply part of the process.

Safety and Resilience Starts Here. Results prove it.

Families look for safety, educators seek support, and boards value results. SafeSide helps meet each of these needs byproviding practical tools that strengthen school communities without adding extra burden.

Data (Wyman 2020, 2022) for Core Connections show participants
50%
less likely to need corrective training.
less likely to feel isolated
SafeSide CARE evaluation data shows
84%
of participants say they can apply the training in their job.
95%
of Youth Services participants confident in suicide prevention after the workshop.

Learn More About Each Program

SafeSide CARE Testimonials

[The program] gave me a stronger assessment understanding and provided clear ways to connect with students and respond to suicidality.

SafeSide CARE Youth Services Participant

My staff felt it was the most usable information they've received in a training that can actually be applied from that moment on. The presenters are personable and highly organised. The framework makes sense and the visual helps us to gather the pieces in a reasonable way. Including a person with lived experience helps to make this work so much more authentic and meaningful.

Leader in Primary/Secondary Education, 5 star G2 review

SafeSide's content and its people are amazing. The support we receive and the connections that have been made are improving our ability to provide a service that is truly "beyond safety". We already held the values, many parts of the knowledge, and some of the skills, but the SafeSide Framework brings it all together, and helps us to identify what we are doing well and where we need to keep building.

Youth Clinical Services Director, 5 star G2 review

Frequently Asked Questions

What is SafeSide Schools?

A program that combines student suicide prevention with staff wellness support. It strengthens team cohesion and helps schools keep their best staff.

What happens after I reach out to SafeSide?

Once you connect with us, you’ll be guided through a simple step-by-step process — starting with a call to understand your goals, followed by planning and building the right pathway for your context. You can read more about the full process on our What to Expect page.

How does SafeSide Schools fit with other SafeSide programs?

SafeSide Schools is part of the wider SafeSide system. Core Connections supports staff wellbeing and team culture, while CARE gives every adult a clear role in student safety. Together, they create one shared language and approach across classrooms, offices, and leadership.

How is it different from other trainings?

Minimal prep. Built for real schools. Designed for all staff. Addresses both student safety and staff wellbeing.

How is training delivered?

Core Connections is delivered in interactive group sessions. SafeSide CARE is delivered through InPlace® Learning with workshops and continuous learning opportunities. Both can be scheduled flexibly to fit around deployments and operational demands.

What is the time commitment?

Tiered approach that fits PD schedules:

- Universal (All Staff): 30-min eCourse, Targeted (Teachers, Aides, Coaches, Admins): 2-hr workshop

- Intensive (Mental Health Staff): 2-hr workshop

- Core Connections (Staff Wellness): 4-hr training (in a half-day or two shorter sessions).

Does SafeSide provide facilitators?

CARE: Any staff member can host using video and AI support tools.

Core Connections: Expert facilitators lead sessions.

Can our school train in-house facilitators?

Yes. In the early stages, SafeSide provides expert facilitators. Once your school or district decides to sustain the program long-term, we offer a well-established pathway to prepare your own staff to deliver with fidelity and scale.

What about cost?

Priced per school building—often less than one day of substitute coverage.

Will this replace our crisis protocols?

No. It strengthens them. Staff respond earlier and more effectively with evidence-based practices, clear boundaries, and documentation tools.

How do we get started?

We consult with you to understand your organisation's needs and goals. Together, we create an implementation plan that fits your staff, calendar, and priorities.

What support is available after training?

Schools receive ongoing access to online resources, AI-supported tools, and refresher content. Our team is available for follow-up support to help sustain momentum, answer questions, and adapt the program as your needs evolve.

What evidence supports this approach?

CARE: Built on 15+ years of suicide prevention research.

Core Connections: Proven in randomised controlled trials with military personnel, showing reduced depression, suicide risk, and occupational problems.

Every Conversation Matters. Every Person Can Help.

Every school will face moments of challenge with students - it’s not a question of if, but when. SafeSide gives your staff the confidence and tools to be ready, so students feel supported when they need it most.