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Suicide is the leading cause of death in the United States. In 2020, there was roughly 46,000 deaths by suicide.

It was also the 2nd leading cause of death in young people.

Suicidal ideation is even greater. In 2020, an estimated 12.2 million people considered it.
(CDC, 2022)

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, October 24). Facts about suicide. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/suicide/facts/index.html

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A counselor is ethically required to make sure ALL stakeholders have adequate information regarding suicide. This might include suicide prevention strategies, crisis management action plan, and referral steps.

My plan for disseminating this information
would be through multiple methods, such as including a statement in student and parent handbooks, classroom lessons on suicide prevention, and through campus wide initiatives.

Additionally making the information available on school counseling department websites, counseling brochures, and any school or district social media accounts.

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In the event of a crisis situation on campus that a student is suicidal, the counselor will...

1. Once notified immediately get to student.
2. Complete a risk assessment.
3. Notify parents and/or guardians.
4. Stay with student and then release to a parent/guardian.
5. Provide appropriate resources for help.

In the event a student from your campus has died by suicide, the counselor, as a part of the crisis response team, will...
1. Implement the crisis response team.
2. Verify the validity of the report, confirm the death.
3. Discuss with family to determine what will be shared publicly.
4. After discussing with family, acknowledge public. Notify staff and teachers prior to students.
5. Provide grief counseling and support at school.
6. Work to maintain a normal educational environment while being visible and monitoring student body.

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The best way to prevent suicide is through education. Most suicides are related to depression, and, since we cannot always prevent depression, we can learn to recognize and respond to cries for help from people who feel hopeless.

All stakeholders should be educated on what to do in the event they either hear themselves firsthand or through secondhand information that someone is suicideal.

If the information is not heard firsthand, you should:

Try to get get as much as possible from the source you heard and then report to a counselor asap. It is always better to take precaution when it comes to suicide.

If the information is heard firsthand, you should:

Do not leave them alone.

Contact the counselor and if they are not reachable or available, contact and administrator.

Stay with them until you can release the student to a counselor and/or administrator.

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According to the American Foundation for Suicide prevention, in 2020, suicide was the 11th leading cause of death in Texas and the 2nd leading cause of death in young people ages 10-24.

Research also shows that in 2021, 67.12% of Texas communities reported not having enough mental health resources available.
(AFSP, 2022)

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TEC 19 153.1013-Suicide Prevention Training

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TEC 19 153.1013-Suicide Prevention Training

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(a) All school districts and open-enrollment charter schools shall provide suicide prevention training as required by the Texas Education Code (TEC), §21.451(d), to all new school district and open-enrollment charter school educators as a part of new employee orientation during the 2016-2017 school year. (b) Each subsequent school year, school districts and open-enrollment charter schools shall provide suicide prevention training as required by the TEC, §21.451(d), to all new school district and open-enrollment charter school educators as a part of new employee orientation. (c) All school districts and open-enrollment charter schools shall provide suicide prevention training as required by the TEC, §21.451(d), to all currently employed school district and open-enrollment charter school educators on or by September 30, 2016. (d) Suicide prevention training that is required by the TEC, §21.451(d), and was provided to existing educators by a school district or open-enrollment charter school on or after September 1, 2013, may be used to meet the requirements of this section if the training program is on the recommended best practice-based list maintained by the Department of State Health Services (DSHS), in coordination with the Texas Education Agency (TEA), or is an online program that meets the TEA guidelines for independent review. (e) In accordance with the Health and Safety Code, §161.325, school districts shall maintain records that include the name of each educator who participated in the suicide prevention training. (f) Open-enrollment charter schools are encouraged to maintain suicide prevention training records that include the name of each educator who participated in the suicide prevention training.

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(a) All school districts and open-enrollment charter schools shall provide suicide prevention training as required by the Texas Education Code (TEC), §21.451(d), to all new school district and open-enrollment charter school educators as a part of new employee orientation during the 2016-2017 school year.

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American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. (2022, April 11). Texas. American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. https://afsp.org/facts/texas

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1-800-273-TALK (8255)

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A local non-profit community center specializing in the treatment of and service delivery to individuals in Denton County with a mental health diagnosis or a developmental disability diagnosis.
800-762-0157

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Denton County MHMR Center is a local Non-Profit Community Center specializing in the treatment of and service delivery to individuals in Denton County with a mental health diagnosis or a developmental disability diagnosis. Our staff will work with you, your family, and other community organizations and providers to develop person-centered treatment plans designed to help you achieve your personal goals.

Denton County MHMR Center is designated as the local Mental Health and Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities Authority for Denton County, Texas. Denton County MHMR Center is administered by a Board of Trustees.

Services for Persons with Mental Health Needs

Assertive Community Treatment (ACT)

Case Management

Child and Adolescent Services

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Crisis Hotline

Mobile Crisis Outreach Team (MCOT)

Hospital Liaison

Intake and Referral

Out-Patient Psychiatric

Skills Training

Services for Persons with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities(IDD) and Related Conditions

Community Support

Specialized Therapies

Respite

Psychology and Behavioral Support

Day Habilitation

Home and Community-Based Services (HCS)

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Denton County MHMR Center is a local Non-Profit Community Center specializing in the treatment of and service delivery to individuals in Denton County with a mental health diagnosis or a developmental disability diagnosis. Our staff will work with you, your family, and other community organizations and providers to develop person-centered treatment plans designed to help you achieve your personal goals.

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Suicide and Crisis Center of North Texas

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Suicide and Crisis Center of North Texas

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Dallas, Tarrant, and Denton counties
866-672-5100

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Crisis can strike any time, day or night. When feelings of hopelessness, isolation, shame, and anxiety lead people to think that suicide is their only option, they can't wait for help. They need to talk to someone at our suicide and crisis hotline...now.

2020 Fashion Stars for a Cause (FSFAC) Event Postponed

Thank you for joining Suicide and Crisis Center (SCCenter) in our very important mission to help so many in our communities through suicide prevention and crisis intervention. We feel in the current environment with COVID-19 that the responsible thing for SCCenter to do is postpone the Fashion Stars for a Cause (FSFAC) event until a more appropriate time.

This was not an easy decision as this event raises much needed funds for our programs (Teens Can Survive and Survivors of Suicide) as well as our 24/7 Crisis line which receives 2,000 calls a month. We believe this is a correct and responsible decision. Our primary concern in postponing the event is the health, safety and welfare of our generous donors, sponsors and participants.

Our 2020 Fashion Stars for the Cause join us in thanking you for your understanding. We pray for the safety of all during this time. We will be back with more information on rescheduling the FSFAC event.

24/7 Suicide & Crisis Hotline

If you are in crisis or have suicidal thoughts, please call our suicide crisis hotline at 214-828-1000. You can also text "CONNECT" to 741741 anytime to reach trained, caring volunteers at the National Crisis Text Line.

Guidelines for Media Reporting of Suicide

Suicide is a public health issue that should be handled with care and sensitivity when it comes to reporting by various news and media outlets. This is especially true in regard to headlines that may sensationalize or glamorize death, whether it be intentional or not. While such headlines may capture the reader's attention, an unintentional effect can be a higher risk of additional suicides. If you are a member of the media or press reporting on a suicide, please click the View Guidelines button to download best practices for reporting on this tragic public health issue.

Stay In Touch

Stay in-the-know by signing up for email updates on upcoming events and important information and statistics. You will also have access to newsletters that contain stories and articles about suicide, tips on surviving (for survivors of suicide), and information about current and/or past events. You can sign up for updates by clicking on the button below or text "HOPELINE" to 22828 (message and data rates may apply).

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Suicide and Crisis Center of North Texas

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Crisis can strike any time, day or night. When feelings of hopelessness, isolation, shame, and anxiety lead people to think that suicide is their only option, they can't wait for help. They need to talk to someone at our suicide and crisis hotline...now.

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Each school year, school districts and open-enrollment charter schools shall provide suicide prevention training as required by the TEC, §21.451(d), to all new and current school district and open-enrollment charter school educators as a part of new employee orientation.

School districts must maintain records of those employees participating in the suicide prevention training.

(19 TAC § 153.1013)

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19 Tex. Admin. Code § 153.1013

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In compliance with TEA, PISD schools will develop practices and procedures concerning mental health promotion and intervention, and suicide prevention, that:

Include a procedure for providing educational material to all parents and families in the district that contains information on identifying risk factors, accessing resources for treatment or support provided on and off campus, and accessing available student accommodations provided on campus.

(Ponder ISD Student Handbook Code of Conduct, 2022-2023).

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Blackboard, Inc. (2022). 2022-2023 PJH student handbook.pdf. Ponder Jr. High. https://drive.google.com/file/d/17BkDUDGsKIgcZfcwJVhVJUUD_iyD74WT/view

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Most recent data for Tarrant County, shows in 2017 suicide was the 9th leading cause of death among Tarrant County residents.

Among Tarrant County resident, suicide was highest in non-hispanics white males.
(Tarrant County, 2022)

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42 U.S. Code § 290bb–36a - Suicide Prevention for Youth

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42 U.S. Code § 290bb–36a - Suicide Prevention for Youth

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[USC02] 42 USC 290bb-36a: Suicide prevention for youth

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USC02] 42 USC 290bb-36a: Suicide prevention for youth

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ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors

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ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors

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The intended audience for this presentation is primarily campus teachers and staff. It can be utilized during a professional development day to educate staff and shed light on a counselor's role in suicide prevention.

Providing them with data, resources, laws, etc. can keep them current on suicide trends, how their campus counselors are working to prevent suicide, legal aspects of suicide, and what steps are generally taken when a student is deemed a risk.

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This code outlines where funding for non-profits and organizations come from.

Code 42 also outlines how coordination will work with the relevant Department of Health and Human Services agencies and suicide working groups.

Requirements for how public organizations, private nonprofit organizations, etc. will run are also given in the code.

(42 USC § 290bb-36a).

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Section A of ASCA's Ethical Standards for School Counselors outlines the school counselor's responsibility to students.
Section A.9. outlines the school counselors roles and responsibilities when it comes to serious and foreseeable harm to self and others.

Section A.9.a states school counselors should

1. Inform parents/guardians and/or appropriate authorities when a student poses a serious and foreseeable risk of harm to self or others. The consequence of the risk of not giving parents/guardians a chance to intervene on behalf of their child is too great. Even if the danger appears relatively remote, parents should be notified.

(ASCA, 2016).

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When it comes to suicide and a suicide prevention plan, the school counselors should...

1. Maintain up to date training and professional development on suicide data, trends, and warning signs.

2. Be and stay knowledgeable about the resources available and have them readily available to implement and/or distribute to teachers, staff, students, and parents.

3. Be able and willing to educate students, staff, colleagues and parents on recognizing warning signs/symptoms for suicidal behavior in youth.

4. Feel comfortable in referring students who demonstrate signs of suicidal thoughts to local community agencies.

5. Always deliberate and consult with other appropriate professionals regarding appropriate next steps.

6. Not release a student who is a danger to self or others until the student has proper and necessary support.

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American School Counselor Association. (2016). Ethical standards for school counselors. https://www.schoolcounselor.org/getmedia/f041cbd0-7004-47a5-ba01-3a5d657c6743/Ethical-Standards.pdf

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As a school counselor, you must know limits of confidentiality and when it is necessary and ethically required to break confidentiality. One of the conditions when it becomes necessary is when a student wants to hurt themself. In that event, a counselor MUST report to parent or guardian.

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42 USC § 290bb-36a

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Suicide in Tarrant County. Tarrant County TX. (n.d.). https://access.tarrantcounty.com/en/public-health/public-health-administration/suicide-in-tarrant-county.html