How do you handle suicidal, depressed, or students with anxiety disorders?

What are the best strategies and should the school have some type of policy?

I suffered severe depression and anxiety when I was a teenager. My problems were visible as I was anorexic, self-harmed and ran away a couple of times. The school treated me leniently on homework/not listening in class etc. I actually didn't agree with this approach as I felt I was a burden to others. I didn't want to receive special treatment. It would be best, I think, to discuss the matter discreetly with the parents and then, if agreed, the parents and the child together to find out what would work best on an individual level. Mental health problems vary wildly between sufferers and so your treatment of them should vary too. I'm sorry if I've just set you up with a logistical nightmare!
Good luck.

Be caring and compassionate towards them, I have generalized anxiety disorder, and it's pure hell sometimes, someone who never dealt w/ it can't even begin to imagine how uncomfortable it is to deal w/. Hopefully the student's issues are being addressed w/ their parents thru counseling, medication, etc, but if it's not, the school guidance counselor may be a good person to start with to begin to get the child some help.

There are usually groups and counselling available, it is good to talk to people that have gone through it, they need to know they are not alone. It is important to take care of it early instead of later when it could be worse.

They need to be passionately handled. Counselling and meditation are the keys

Relate. Do you know someone who has gone through something like that? Ask them about it. Otherwise, just listen.