The Marietta Board of Education approved 7-0 Sept. 15 a new policy on suicide prevention for students.

However, school officials cannot provide “care” or “ministerial duties.”

What they can do is undergo annual training to “identify appropriate mental health services” and “when and how to refer youth and their families to those services.”

Top Marietta City Schools officials are required to “develop procedures” to address “suicide prevention efforts, intervention and postvention” in consultation with school officials, community residents, school-employed mental health professionals and suicide prevention experts.

This new policy was developed to follow state law and Georgia Board of Education rule.