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As a future counselor, I choose this topic because there has been an increase in the number of students committing suicide. The goal of the school counselor is to ensure that all students succeed and that must be done by addressing the social, emotional, and mental needs of all students. The purpose of this guide is to educate secondary school counselors on the best legal and ethical practices for working with suicidal students.

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1. A legal guide on suicide is very important for school counselors to ensure they are following state and federal laws. A legal guide will be very helpful to new school counselors with little or no experience. There has been an increase in the number of students committing suicide. Today, school counselors have to be very careful when handling students at-risk of suicide.
2. Best Practices

·   Keep Documentation

·  Always contact a parent or legal or guardian

·  Make sure students and staff know how to contact you
3. Educators should be mindful of parents who  decline additional therapy. Parents of students who constantly threaten to commit suicide become exhausted and immune to the students threats.  Educators should be aware of the referral process in their district and make sure they keep documentation of  parent contact.  If a  constantly parent refuses services, school counselor may have to escalate the issue. The interviewee does attend multiple training's throughout the year on suicide and other issues.
4. Cornesha Johnson Crowley I.S.D.
https://www.crowleyisdtx.org/Page/777

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The article, " Student Suicide: Legal and Ethical Implications, provides school counselors with some best practices for working with suicidal students. The article points out that school counselors act in loco parentis which means they are legally obligated to protect students and notify the parents if their child is at risk of committing suicide.

Stone, C. & Zirkel, P. (2012). Student Suicide: Legal and ethical implications. ASCA school counselor. Retrieved from:  https://www.schoolcounselor.org/magazine/blogs/may-june-2012/student-suicide-legal-and-ethical-implications

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· In 2017 more than 47,000 people died by suicide

· Suicide is second major cause of death of adolescents between the age of 10-19

· Schools must respond correctly after a suicide by not glamorizing the death

· School can prevent student suicide by creating a warm and welcoming environment and educating staff

· School counselors need to provide students with strategies for dealing with depression and anxiety

Stark, L. (2018). Suicides are on the rise. Here’s how schools can help. Education Week. Retrieved from:
https://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/rulesforengagement/2018/12/suicides_continue_to_increase_how_schools_can_help.html

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·  Parent groups are fighting for more mental health professionals in Denver schools

·  Many public schools in America have police but no nurse, social worker, or psychologist.

· Middle school students are now more likely to die from suicide than traffic accident

·  Some factors that affect student mental health are bullying, stress, drug abuse, and academic performance.

·  Many schools are struggling to hire enough mental health professional to met the needs of their student population

Harper, A. (2019). Denver schools face push for fewer cops, more counselors. Education Dive. Retrieved from:

https://www.educationdive.com/news/denver-schools-face-push-for-fewer-cops-more-counselors/553275/

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State Statutory Law: Tex. Education Code § 33.006

https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.33.htm

This section outlines the role of the school counselor in ensuring all students academic success including students on drugs, in gangs, and students at risk of committing suicide.

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Judicial Law: Nguyen vs. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2018)

https://law.justia.com/cases/massachusetts/supreme-court/2018/sjc-12329.html

This case was brought before the Massachusetts supreme court because a student at MIT committed suicide and his parents accused the school of negligence. The court found the university was not negligent because the student refused mental health services.

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Federal Statutory Law: 2007 Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act Reauthorization Act of 2007 S. 1514. This law amends the Public Health service Act to include provisions for training, technical assistance, and information on youth suicide and prevention.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/110th-congress/senate-bill/1514

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State Statutory Law: Texas Educ. Code § 11.252

https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.11.htm

This law outlines the requirements of each district improvement plan for student performance. The law requires each district to create an environment for students to reach their full potential which include suicide prevention programs. This law would help reduce student suicide rates by providing teacher, counselors, and administrators with tools and systems to help at-risk students.

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Parents are advised to contact the school counselor or access the national website if they feel they are concerned about their child CISD Student Handbook, p.83, 2018). This policy outlines part of the relationship between the school and the parent to help the student who may commit suicide.
Crowley independent school district student handbook. (2018). Retrieved from:
https://www.crowleyisdtx.org/cms/lib5/TX01917780/Centricity/Domain/507/CISD%202017-18%20Student%20Handbook%20FINAL.pdf

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According to ASCA (2016), " School Counselors should collaborate with all relevant stakeholders, including students, educators and parents/guardians when student assistance is needed, including the identification of early warning signs of student distress."
As a school counselor, my job is to provide students with tools and techniques to help them handle their mental and personal issues. When a student is at-risk of committing suicide, I have to work with all the stakeholders to ensure the students success.
https://www.schoolcounselor.org/asca/media/asca/Ethics/EthicalStandards2016.pdf

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Texas Suicide Prevention https://texassuicideprevention.org/

This website provides readers with articles on how to recognize and prevent suicide. It also has a contact number for readers to call if they are concerned about a loved one.  Furthermore, this agency offers suicide prevention training's to public school officials.

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· Always immediately notify a parent or a guardian, even if, a student stated they may commit suicide

·   Do not leave students alone or send them back to class if they are at-risk of committing suicide

·  Keep a paper and electronic copy of your communication log with parents make sure the date, time, and reason for the call are included.

·  If a parent refuses to seek professional help due to lack of proof, have them formally decline in writing.

·  Offer suicide trainings to the school staff and keep a log of dates trainings were offered.

·  Have referral and contact information posted throughout the school and inform students and staff of the posters

·  Read and keep on file the district’s policy due process on suicide to ensure compliance

· Keep an electronic copy of all student visits the log should include: Student ID number, date, time, purpose of visit, and resolution.