Bullying, Family Support, and Suicide Risk among Students With Disabilities: Evidence and Strategies for Schools

Drawing on quantitative findings from a large student self-report survey, this session examines how bullying involvement, family support, and school belonging influence suicide risk among students with disabilities. Session presenters will share actionable strategies to strengthen protective supports across family and school contexts to promote student well-being and resilience.Participants will be able to: 1. Interpret findings from a large, population-based study examining how bullying victimization, family support, and school belonging contribute to suicide risk among students with disabilities. 2. Identify evidence-based strategies to enhance protective factors within inclusive, multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS), including strengthening teacher-student relationships, fostering school belonging, promoting resilience, and addressing bullying. 3. Evaluate opportunities to strengthen family-school-community partnerships that build protective networks, reduce social isolation, and promote well-being for students with disabilities.