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Interning as a professional school counselor at the middle school level, I have come to recognize the large population of students who struggle with suicide ideation and thoughts of suicide. The audience in regards to this Padlet will be professional teachers. It is my hope that through awareness and education teachers can better understand the impact they have on students’ mental health.

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After interviewing Ms. Stacy Roeming, a former high school counselor in Stephenville, Texas, and high schools in Louisiana and Colorado, it is evident that the thoughts and professionalism around suicide are complex and multifaceted. When asked why the Legal Guide is important to our field, she noted, “a legal guide ensures that we are following procedures across the board for each incident we come across. While each case (student) is different, it is necessary to have a common response” (personal communication, March 1, 2021). Additionally, a legal guide ensures that the common response is for the child’s best interest. “When a child cries out for help, we must be able to help them” having a legal guide is beneficial not only to the student, but also to the counselor and district in making tough decisions around that cry for help. “While it’s critical to help that child, we must do so in the appropriate manners” (personal communication, March 1, 2021).

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Best Practices in Working with Suicidal Students

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Best Practices in Working with Suicidal Students

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- Assess where the student is for risk of suicide (high/moderate or low). EX: Do they have a plan in place? Prior attempts of suicide? Recently experienced loss or life change?

- Let the student know that you will be communicating with their guardian in regards to their well-being.

- Refer to outside resources that are available to help with mental health. This could be gaining a commitment from parent to continually support student at home, or a mental health specialist like MHMR depending on risk.

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Throughout my interview with Ms. Roeming, it became abundantly clear that she is concerned about the rise of student suicides, suicide ideation, and self-harm, she is noticing across district campuses. “Because of Covid, we are having school in a completely different way than ever before. Some students have yet to step foot on campus, for others it’s the fear that their parent won’t ever work again, and for some it’s the concern that they may be the ones to transmit the disease back home to a vulnerable family member” (personal communication, March 1, 2021). She elaborated that while more students are seeking help for these specific things, there’s also more students in our district who may be fearful to ask for help. As a result, she stated, “My recent trainings have been geared to students who may be reluctant to reach out to their teachers, friends, or campus counselor, and try to identify who these kids are. When we can identify them, we can help them” (personal communication, March 1, 2021).

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Stacy Roeming
Digital Integration Specialist
Stephenville ISD
https://www.sville.us/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=71817&type=d&pREC_ID=2116045

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The American School Counselor Association published a Model School District Policy on Suicide Prevention. This training provides school districts with model language, commentary and resources from a number of highly accredited institutions like American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, National Association of School Psychologists, and the like.
Moutier, C., Cook, J., Dooren, M., Vaillancourt Strobach, K., Gibson, N., & Brinton, S. (2019). Model school district policy on suicide prevention: Model language, commentary, and resources. American School Counselor Association.https://www.schoolcounselor.org/getmedia/9b28c170-607a-428f-9dae-619850fa531b/Model-School-District-Policy-Suicide-Prehttps://www.schoolcounselor.org/getmedia/9b28c170-607a-428f-9dae-619850fa531b/Model-School-District-Policy-Suicide-Prevention.pdfvention.pdf

Link: https://www.schoolcounselor.org/getmedia/9b28c170-607a-428f-9dae-619850fa531b/Model-School-District-Policy-Suicide-Prevention.pdf

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As Student Suicides Rise, A Harvard Case Opens New Questions About Schools' Responsibility

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As Student Suicides Rise, A Harvard Case Opens New Questions About Schools' Responsibility

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With the rise of students dying by suicide at Universities, schools across the U.S. are considering what their responsibility is to these students in preventing suicides on campus.

The parents of one student who attended Harvard is suing the school for failing to protect his son from self-harm. "The case builds on a 2018 ruling by the Massachusetts Supreme Court that found school have a 'limited duty' to prevent suicides if they know a student is at risk."

As a result of the case, Universities across the nation are considering what role they play in mental health, and how they can best serve students in need.

McKim, J. (2019, September 16). As student suicides rise, a Harvard case opens new questions about school responsibility. GBH News.https://www.wgbh.org/news/education/2019/09/16/as-student-suicides-rise-a-harvard-case-opens-new-questions-about-schools-responsibility

Link: https://www.wgbh.org/news/education/2019/09/16/as-student-suicides-rise-a-harvard-case-opens-new-questions-about-schools-responsibility

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An 8-year-old killed himself after being bullied, lawsuit says. The school district wants immunity. 

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An 8-year-old killed himself after being bullied, lawsuit says. The school district wants immunity. 

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An eight-year-old boy died by suicide in January of 2017. The student suffered repeated bullying attacks from other students.

Two days before he died, the student was found unconscious by school administration. The school did not communicate with the parents the real reason the student was found unconscious- he was the victim of a physical assault.

The parents of the victim were never told of the repeated bullying attacks their child endured while enrolled at Carson Elementary School.

Iatai, M. (2019, December 5). An 8-year-old killed himself after being bullied, lawsuit says: The school district wants immunity. Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2019/12/05/an-year-old-killed-himself-after-being-bullied-  police-say-school-district-wants-immunity/

Link: https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2019/12/05/an-year-old-killed-himself-after-being-bullied-police-say-school-district-wants-immunity/

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Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of California

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Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of California

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The Supreme Court of California held that mental health professionals have a duty to protect their patient and those they may inflict harm upon.

The case has widely been adopted by most states in the U.S.  as to what can  or cannot be shared in regards to patient confidentiality.

Justice Matthew O. Tobriner wrote the majority opinion stating, "w conclude that tthe public policy favoring protection of the confidential character of the patient- psychotherapist communications must yield to the extent to which disclosure is essential to avert danger."

As a school counselor, we have a duty to break confidentiality and inform parents that their child is a danger to either themselves or others.

Citation: 12 Cal. 3d 425, 551 P.2d 334, 131 Cal.Rptr. 14
Link: https://scocal.stanford.edu/opinion/tarasoff-v-regents-university-california-30278

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Texas Education Agency Best Practice Programs

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Texas Education Agency Best Practice Programs

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The Texas Education Agency alongside the Health and Human Services Commission and Department of State Health Services work together to create best-practice programs and research-based practices for public school implementation.

Texas Education Agency provides information to help schools support students' mental and behavioral health.

Citation:
Link: https://tea.texas.gov/texas-schools/health-safety-discipline/coordinated-school-health/counseling-and-mental-health-services-of-the-coordinated-school-health-model

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Relating to the mental health of public school students in training requirements for school employees.

Training would be required to gain a teaching certificate, as well as continuing education requirements, that teachers must be able to intervene with students who have a mental health condition, understand suicide prevention, recognize signs of mental health conditions, and understand how grief and trauma affect student learning and behavior.

Citation: Tex. H.B. 18, 87th Leg., R.S., (2019).
Link: https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=86R&Bill=HB18

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Suicide Prevention

Midway ISD is leading the way for public school programs on what suicide prevention and intervention programs can look like.

On their website, MISD clearly states that suicide is is the third leading cause of death among young people ages 15-24.

Using the Lifeline Program, Midway schools clearly outlines risk factors of students who may consider suicide, warning signs to look for, as well as protective factors that can help reduce suicidal tendencies.

Citation:
Link:

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A.2. g. School Counselors promote the autonomy of students to the extent possible and use the most appropriate and least intrusive method to breach confidentiality, if such action is warranted. The child's developmental age and the circumstances requiring the breach are considered, and as appropriate, students are engaged in a discussion about the method and timing of the breach. Consultation with peers and/or supervision is recommended.

In working with suicidal students, it is necessary to understand where confidentiality to the student may end. Above all, counselors are charged with the safety and well-being of students. When a student comes to you with thoughts or plans of suicide, it is necessary to inform the parents/guardians so that they may provide care to their child.

Citation: American School Counselor Association. (Revised 2009, June 26). Ethical Standards for school

counselors. Retrieved November 30, 2019, from

http://www.schoolcounselor.org/files/ethical%20standards.pdf

Link: https://www.schoolcounselor.org/getmedia/f041cbd0-7004-47a5-ba01-3a5d657c6743/Ethical-Standards.pdf

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In learning more about suicidal students, it helped me better understand the role I have as a future counselor. While the letter of the law is clear that unless there is a clear and present danger a counselor must not break confidentiality; at the heart of counseling we strive to keep students safe. It is evident that the role of the counselor is to ensure student safety, and often times that means breaking confidentiality in order for the parents/guardians to intercede and provide outside resources.

My educational goals are to fully understand what is required of me by law, and to follow that accordingly. Ethically, my desire is to always keep students safe. While I'm sure to struggle finding the balance between doing what the law requires of me, and doing what is right in regards to student safety, I know that when challenged with this dilemma I will be able to use resources to help make the best informed decision.

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In meeting with a suicidal student, a counselor must be direct and ask the student if they have a plan in place.

A formal or informal risk assessment will need to be given.

Parents/Guardian should be informed the same school day any time there is a risk of suicide.

The school counselor will provide outside resources to the family in dealing with a suicidal student.

If the student is at moderate/high risk of suicide, the parents will be contacted immediately to retrieve their child and take them for psychiatric observation.

If a student is low risk, they may return to class after speaking with the counselor.

Regardless of risk, have student identify people they can lean on for support (friend, parent, teacher/counselor, etc.).

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"Congress shall make no law... abridging the freedom of speech" (U.S. Const. amend. I).

In honoring the first amendment rights of all students on campus, counselors must understand that what is commonplace for a student to say, may not be a true, identifiable suicidal threat (ex: "that class makes me want to blow my brains out").

Students, however, will also need to understand that while they are able to speak freely, their words may have unintended consequences. If a teacher were to overhear a student say, "that exam made me want to cut myself", the teacher might report the student to the counselor even though the student had no true intention of self harm.

Link: https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/first_amendment