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My name is Lynsey McLaughlin
I am in the Master of Mental Health and Wellness Program at Angelo State University.

This is my second year being a high school counselor at a rural community in Texas. As a professional goal, I wish to be able to spend the eighty percent of my time on counseling and mental health services for my students. As a personal goal, I hope to complete this Masters program by December. I have five children at home aging form seventeen to three years old.  I am wanting to stay on track and show them you can work, have children, and still complete your goals. They are my motivation and I want to be their role model in life.

I hope to gain a greater understanding about mental health through this course so I can utilize that knowledge to help the students that I serve.

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An easy way to define a school counselor's role is through their ethical standards. These standards shape what a school counselor can and cannot do inside and outside the school setting. The American School Counselor's Association (ASCA) is a great resource for counselors to use.  The ASCA offers a complete list of the responsibilities a school counselor has to the students, parents, community, and staff they work with. These responsibilities help to clearly define a school counselor's role by providing a framework for their expectations.

https://www.schoolcounselor.org/About-School-Counseling/Ethical-Legal-Responsibilities/ASCA-Ethical-Standards-for-School-Counselors-(1)

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See what you know about Mental Health. This quiz is a great way to truly see what you know about Mental Health. After you take the quiz, it will show you your responses and what the correct responses are. This allows you to see if what you picked was correct or incorrect. After taking the quiz myself, I was amazed by some of the answers and the statics related to mental health. I did not receive that high of a score and know that I have room to grow. I feel that this course will help me to fill the gaps I have in my mental health knowledge.

https://deconstructingstigma.org/mental-health

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Mental Health Quiz | Deconstructing Stigma

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So you think you know the facts about mental illness? Test your knowledge against this 8-question quiz.

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One out of every five Americans is affected by some form of Mental Illness. One out of twenty-five Americans suffers from a severe mental illness that could include but is not limited to schizophrenia or bipolar disorder(CDC,2021). These are staggering numbers. In the past, mental health was once stigmatized but in recent years the need for mental health awareness and education has been brought to the forefront.  It is important to understand the types of Mental Health Disorders in order to understand how these disorders affect individuals in their daily lives. Defining and categorizing mental illness allowed was beneficial in understanding the dynamics of mental illness, who it affects, and what resources there are to help.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, June 28). About mental health. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved February 10, 2023, from https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/learn/index.htm#:~:text=1%20in%205%20Americans%20will,illness%20in%20a%20given%20year.&text=1%20in%205%20children%2C%20either,a%20seriously%20debilitating%20mental%20illness.&text=1%20in%2025%20Americans%20lives,bipolar%20disorder%2C%20or%20major%20depression.

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The traumas individuals experience in their lives can shape the people that they become. They create a level of anxiety that alters the way they react to everyday situations (Garland, 2018). All of the perpetrators in the killer or serial killer documentaries suffered from some sort of childhood trauma they never received any mental health support. It is important for people to receive mental health support so they can better process traumatic events and be able to cope with these events more effectively in the future. I watched an episode of I am a killer: A mothers love on Netflix. The documentary was based on a woman who was sexually assaulted as a child and then abused by her husband as an adult. She was in jail for killing her husband in her home after he broke a restraining order.

Garland, C. (2018). Understanding trauma: A psychoanalytical approach. Routledge.

https://www.netflix.com/title/80202283

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Watch I AM A KILLER | Netflix Official Site

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Death row inmates convicted of capital murder give firsthand accounts of their crimes in this documentary series. Watch trailers & learn more.

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https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness

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National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

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Mental illnesses are common in the United States. It is estimated that more than one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness (57.8 million in 2021). Mental illnesses include many different conditions that vary in degree of severity, ranging from mild to moderate to severe. Two broad categories can be used to describe these conditions: Any Mental Illness (AMI) and Serious Mental Illness (SMI). AMI encompasses all recognized mental illnesses. SMI is a smaller and more severe subset of AMI. Additional information on mental illnesses can be found on the NIMH Health Topics Pages.

Definitions

The data presented here are from the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). For inclusion in NSDUH prevalence estimates, mental illnesses include those that are diagnosable currently or within the past year; of sufficient duration to meet diagnostic criteria specified within the 4th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV); and, exclude developmental and substance use disorders.

Any Mental Illness

Any mental illness (AMI) is defined as a mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder. AMI can vary in impact, ranging from no impairment to mild, moderate, and even severe impairment (e.g., individuals with serious mental illness as defined below).

Serious Mental Illness

Serious mental illness (SMI) is defined as a mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder resulting in serious functional impairment, which substantially interferes with or limits one or more major life activities. The burden of mental illnesses is particularly concentrated among those who experience disability due to SMI.

Prevalence of Any Mental Illness (AMI)

Figure 1 shows the past year prevalence of AMI among U.S. adults.

In 2021, there were an estimated 57.8 million adults aged 18 or older in the United States with AMI. This number represented 22.8% of all U.S. adults.

The prevalence of AMI was higher among females (27.2%) than males (18.1%).

Young adults aged 18-25 years had the highest prevalence of AMI (33.7%) compared to adults aged 26-49 years (28.1%) and aged 50 and older (15.0%).

The prevalence of AMI was highest among the adults reporting two or more races (34.9%), followed by American Indian / Alaskan Native (AI/AN) adults (26.6%). The prevalence of AMI was lowest among Asian adults (16.4%).

Figure 1

*Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race; all other racial/ethnic groups are non-Hispanic. NH/OPI = Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Islander | AI/AN = American Indian / Alaskan Native

Mental Health Services - AMI

Figure 2 presents data on mental health services (including virtual services) received within the past year by U.S. adults aged 18 or older with any mental illness (AMI). NSDUH defines mental health services as having received inpatient treatment/counseling or outpatient treatment/counseling, or having used prescription medication for problems with emotions, nerves, or mental health.

In 2021, among the 57.8 million adults with AMI, 26.5 million (47.2%) received mental health services in the past year.

More females with AMI (51.7%) received mental health services than males with AMI (40.0%).

The percentage of young adults aged 18-25 years with AMI who received mental health services (44.6%) was lower than adults with AMI aged 26-49 years (48.1%) and aged 50 and older (47.4%).

Figure 2

*Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race; all other racial/ethnic groups are non-Hispanic. Note: Estimates for Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Islander and, American Indian / Alaskan Native groups are not reported in the above figure due to low precision of data collection in 2021.

Prevalence of Serious Mental Illness (SMI)

Figure 3 shows the past year prevalence of SMI among U.S. adults.

In 2021, there were an estimated 14.1 million adults aged 18 or older in the United States with SMI. This number represented 5.5% of all U.S. adults.

The prevalence of SMI was higher among females (7.0%) than males (4.0%).

Young adults aged 18-25 years had the highest prevalence of SMI (11.4%) compared to adults aged 26-49 years (7.1%) and aged 50 and older (2.5%).

The prevalence of SMI was highest among AI/AN adults (9.3%), followed by adults reporting two or more races (8.2%). The prevalence of SMI was lowest among Asian adults (2.8%).

Figure 3

* Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race; all other racial/ethnic groups are non-Hispanic. NH/OPI = Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Islander | AI/AN = American Indian / Alaskan Native.

Mental Health Services - SMI

Figure 4 presents data on mental health services received within the past year by U.S. adults 18 or older with serious mental illness (SMI). The NSDUH defines mental health services as having received inpatient treatment/counseling or outpatient treatment/counseling or having used prescription medication for problems with emotions, nerves, or mental health.

In 2021, among the 14.1 million adults with SMI, 9.1 million (65.4%) received mental health treatment in the past year.

More females with SMI (67.6%) received mental health treatment than males with SMI (61.3%).

The percentage of young adults aged 18-25 years with SMI who received mental health treatment (57.9%) was lower than adults with SMI aged 26-49 years (67.0%) and aged 50 and older (71.0%).

Figure 4

*Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race; all other racial/ethnic groups are non-Hispanic. Note: Estimates for Asian, Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Islander, and American Indian / Alaskan Native groups are not reported in the above figure due to low precision.

Prevalence of Any Mental Disorder Among Adolescents

Based on diagnostic interview data from National Comorbidity Survey Adolescent Supplement (NCS-A), Figure 5 shows lifetime prevalence of any mental disorder among U.S. adolescents aged 13-18.¹

An estimated 49.5% of adolescents had any mental disorder.

Of adolescents with any mental disorder, an estimated 22.2% had severe impairment and/or distress. DSM-IV based criteria were used to determine severity level.

Figure 5

Data Sources

1. Merikangas KR, He JP, Burstein M, Swanson SA, Avenevoli S, Cui L, Benjet C, Georgiades K, Swendsen J. Lifetime prevalence of mental disorders in U.S. adolescents: results from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication--Adolescent Supplement (NCS-A). J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2010 Oct;49(10):980-9. PMID: 20855043

2. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2022). Key substance use and mental health indicators in the United States: Results from the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (HHS Publication No. PEP22-07-01-005, NSDUH Series H-57). Rockville, MD: Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Retrieved from https://www.samhsa.gov/data/report/2021-nsduh-annual-national-report .

Statistical Methods and Measurement Caveats

National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH)

Diagnostic Assessment:

The NSDUH AMI and SMI estimates were generated from a prediction model created from clinical interview data collected on a subset of adult NSDUH respondents who completed an adapted (past 12 month) version of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR Axis I Disorders (Research Version, Non-patient Edition) (SCID-I/NP; First, Spitzer, Gibbon, & Williams, 2002), and was differentiated by level of functional impairment based on the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF; Endicott, Spitzer, Fleiss, & Cohen, 1976).

The assessment included diagnostic modules assessing the following: mood, anxiety, eating, impulse control, substance use, adjustment disorders, and a psychotic symptoms screen.

The assessment did not contain diagnostic modules assessing the following: adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorders, schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders (although the assessment included a psychotic symptom screen).

People who only have disorders that are not included in these diagnostic modules may not be adequately detected. However, there are known patterns of high comorbidities among mental disorders; these patterns increase the likelihood that people who meet AMI and/or SMI criteria were detected by the study, as they may also have one or more of the disorders assessed in the SCID-I/NP.

Population:

The entirety of NSDUH respondents for the AMI and SMI estimates were the civilian, non-institutionalized population aged 18 years old or older residing within the United States.

The survey covered residents of households (persons living in houses/townhouses, apartments, condominiums; civilians living in housing on military bases, etc.) and persons in non-institutional group quarters (e.g., shelters, rooming/boarding houses, college dormitories, migratory workers' camps, and halfway houses).

The survey did not cover persons who, for the entire year, had no fixed address (e.g., homeless and/or transient persons not in shelters); were on active military duty; or who resided in institutional group quarters (e.g., correctional facilities, nursing homes, mental institutions, long-term hospitals).

Some people in these excluded categories had AMI and/or SMI, but were not accounted for in the NSDUH AMI and/or SMI estimates.

Data regarding sex of the respondent was assessed using male and female categories only. Gender identity information was not collected in the survey.

Survey Non-response:

In 2021, 53.0% of the selected NSDUH sample of people 18 or older did not complete the interview. This rate of non-response is higher than in previous years. Please see the Background on the 2021 NSDUH and the COVID-19 Pandemic section below for more information.

Reasons for non-response to interviewing include the following: refusal to participate (30.1%); respondent unavailable or never at home (18.8%); and other reasons such as physical/mental incompetence or language barriers (4.2%).

People with mental illness may disproportionately fall into these non-response categories. While NSDUH weighting includes non-response adjustments to reduce bias, these adjustments may not fully account for differential non-response by mental illness status.

Data Suppression:

For some groups, data are not reported due to low precision. Data may be suppressed in the above charts if the data do not meet acceptable ranges for prevalence estimates, standard error estimates, and sample size.

Background on the 2021 NSDUH and the COVID-19 Pandemic:

Data collection methods for the 2021 NSDUH changed in several ways because of the COVID-19 pandemic: the 2021 NSDUH continued the use of multimode data collection procedures (both in-person and virtual data collection) that were first implemented in the fourth quarter of the 2020 NSDUH. Overall, 54.6% of interviews were completed via the web, and 45.4% were completed in person. In 2021, the weighted response rates for household screening and for interviewing were 22.2% and 46.2%, respectively, for an overall response rate of 10.3% for people aged 12 or older.

Given the use of multimode data collection procedures throughout the entirety of the collection year and the rate of non-response, comparison of estimates from the 2021 NSDUH with those from prior years must be made with caution.

Please see the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health Methodological Summary and Definitions report for further information on how these data were collected and calculated.

National Comorbidity Survey Adolescent Supplement (NCS-A)

Diagnostic Assessment and Population:

The NCS-A was carried out under a cooperative agreement sponsored by NIMH to meet a request from Congress to provide national data on the prevalence and correlates of mental disorders among U.S. youth. The NCS-A was a nationally representative, face-to-face survey of 10,123 adolescents aged 13 to 18 years in the continental United States. The survey was based on a dual-frame design that included 904 adolescent residents of the households that participated in the adult U.S. National Comorbidity Survey Replication and 9,244 adolescent students selected from a nationally representative sample of 320 schools. The survey was fielded between February 2001 and January 2004. DSM-IV mental disorders were assessed using a modified version of the fully structured World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview.

Survey Non-response:

The overall adolescent non-response rate was 24.4%. This is made up of non-response rates of 14.1% in the household sample, 18.2% in the un-blinded school sample, and 77.7% in the blinded school sample. Non-response was largely due to refusal (21.3%), which in the household and un-blinded school samples came largely from parents rather than adolescents (72.3% and 81.0%, respectively). The refusals in the blinded school sample, in comparison, came almost entirely (98.1%) from parents failing to return the signed consent postcard.

For more information, see PMID: 19507169 and the NIMH NCS-A study page.

Last Updated: March 2023

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An overview of statistics for mental illnesses. Mental illnesses are common in the United States. One in six U.S. adults lives with a mental illness (43.4 million in 2015). Mental illnesses include many different conditions that vary in degree of severity, ranging from mild to moderate to severe.

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https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Mental-Health-Conditions

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Learn about the specifics of mental illness including: causes, symptoms, treatment, and recovery and wellness.

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https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/ptsd.pdf

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The ABC Counseling model provides a very specific easy-to-follow guide for counselors. The ABC model of counseling is broken down into three parts. Part A: Achieving a relationship by building a rapport with the individual. Part B: Breaking down the problem and identifying the key issues/needs the individual is experiencing. Part C: Commitment to actions by creating a plan for both the counselor and counselee to accomplish after the session.
http://dustinkmacdonald.com/abc-model-of-crisis-intervention/#Brief_History_of_the_ABC_Model

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A simple model of crisis intervention is the ABC Model. A number of crisis intervention models use this same three step process. Essentially, it involves establishing a relationship (A), understanding the problem (B), and taking action (C).

This model uses Achieving Rapport, Boiling down the Problem and Contracting for Action. You can see a video of this post here.

Brief History of the ABC Model

In the 1980s, the Alberta Model was designed by a team of suicidologists who were responding to a spike in the suicide rate caused by a bottoming out in the economy. In addition to developing the CPR Risk Assessment they also developed the ABC Model of Crisis Intervention dictated below.

Achieving rapport describes the emotional and physical aspects used to establish a connection with the suicidal person you're working with. This involved physical safety, emotional connection and good rapport.

Physical ways that you can establish rapport include:

Ensuring there is no obstacles between yourself and the suicidal person (e.g. chairs, tables); rapport is improved when there is nothing between you

Solid eye contact; when you look at someone rather than looking away it establishes that you're able to talk openly about suicide

Orienting your body towards someone; this is a subconscious cue that you think positively of that person

Keeping your arms uncrossed and legs open; Crossed-arms and legs pressed together are signs of anxiety or dislike

Emotionally, you can establish safety and comfort through the following:

Validate what the person is saying.

Use empathy statements, which are statements that highlight an emotion while responding. For instance, if someone says that they've had a fight with their wife, and that it keeps happening you might say "It sounds like you're feeling really frustrated." This captures the emotion underlying the experience and is an important part of helping someone feel understood.

Use a calm, even voice-tone - don't speak too quickly and don't cut off the other person

Avoid judgement such as "why" questions. Instead ask "How come?"

When rapport is established, the suicidal person will be comfortable and able to express themselves.

Boiling Down the Problem

The next step in the ABC Model of Crisis Intervention is boiling down the problem. This involves a careful mix of open and closed questions to make sure that you fully understand what is making the person suicidal. You can start by asking them what they think is the source of their suicidal pain.

Suicidal thoughts are often the result of events that overwhelm a person's personal coping methods. These methods can be different for every person and so it is unwise to assume that something isn't an issue for the suicidal person unless you've spoken to them about it.

For example, a student who has never failed a test before could become suicidal over a perceived threat to their Ivy League college hopes based on failing a test, while another student may have had many ups and downs and therefore has learned to cope with this loss.

Contracting for Action

When you feel that you have a good understanding of the suicidal person's problems, it's important to work with them to implement some long-term changes. If you think back to the CPR Model, we need to assess whether the person is Low Risk, Medium Risk or High Risk.

Contracting for action means developing plans with the client that they can do within the next 24 hours (or another short period) in order to ensure their safety.

When the suicidal person is low risk, your role should be to help with any practical referrals and building up their support network. For instance, someone who is having financial issues, referral to debt counselling would be helpful. Exploring the person's resources to see if there are those they can rely on who they may not be seeing will also be helpful.

Emotional support is most important at this stage so that the person feels comfortable expressing themselves without feeling judged or stigmatized.

When the suicidal person is medium risk, it's important to work collaboratively. Getting the suicidal person to agree to more comprehensive support will be easier if they know that you care. Taking steps to reduce risk by encouraging the person to remove access to suicide methods is also important.

Ensure that you follow up with the person to make certain that they've taken advantage of the referrals. By checking in with them frequently and continuing to assess their suicide risk (even on a simple 1-10 scale) will help you tell if their suicidal risk is being reduced.

When the suicidal person is high risk, it's important to take immediate steps to reduce that risk. You should be directive with the person, taking immediate steps to guarantee their safety. This will involve checking for suicide attempts in progress, referrals that you make with the suicidal person and possible hospitalization if they don't think they can remain safe throughout the night.

In order to assess for immediate risk, you should ask questions like, "Are you in danger?", "Have you taken anything tonight?", "Have you done anything tonight to hurt or kill yourself?" If the person admits that yes, they have, than it's important to get details and make the call to 911 if necessary.

If not, you should explore what they can do to ensure their safety. This may involve calling a crisis line if they don't feel safe, calling 911 or going to a hospital emergency room or staying with you (or someone else they can rely on) to keep them safe.

Further Reading

The book Crisis Intervention Strategies, 7th Edition provides a review of the ABC Model of Crisis Intervention and other basic and advanced crisis intervention skills. I also provide a number of crisis intervention articles in this area.

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ABC Model of Crisis Intervention - Dustin K MacDonald

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Updated for 2018! See below. A simple model of crisis intervention is the ABC Model. A number of crisis intervention models use this same three step process. Essentially, it involves establishing a relationship (A), understanding the problem (B), and taking action (C). This model uses Achieving Rapport, Boiling down the Problem and Contracting for Action....

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Reference Guide for Mental Health Disorders TEMPLATE

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Psychological First Aid provides the basic understanding of what to do in a crisis event. It shows counselors what to look for when people arrive and what they should and should not do when talking with individuals in crisis.

https://learn.nctsn.org/course/index.php?categoryid=11

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As part of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN), the Learning Center for Child and Adolescent Trauma offers Free Online Education with:

300+ FREE CE certificates

50+ speakers

200+ online webinars

90,000+ members

Psychological First Aid (PFA) and Skills for Psychological Recovery (SPR) are promising practices for disaster behavioral health response and recovery. Both PFA and SPR were developed by the National Center for PTSD and the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, as well as other individuals involved in coordinating and participating in disaster response and recovery.

PFA and SPR intervention strategies are intended for use with children, adolescents, parents and caretakers, families, and adults who are survivors or witnesses exposed to disaster or terrorism. PFA and SPR can also be provided to first responders and other disaster relief workers.

While grounded in the same foundations of disaster response and recovery, there are several differences between PFA and SPR.

Psychological First Aid (PFA) and Skills for Psychological Recovery (SPR) are promising practices for disaster behavioral health response and recovery. Both PFA and SPR were developed by the National Center for PTSD and the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, as well as other individuals involved in coordinating and participating in disaster response and recovery.

PFA and SPR intervention strategies are intended for use with children, adolescents, parents and caretakers, families, and adults who are survivors or witnesses exposed to disaster or terrorism. PFA and SPR can also be provided to first responders and other disaster relief workers.

While grounded in the same foundations of disaster response and recovery, there are several differences between PFA and SPR.

Psychological First Aid (PFA) Online is 5-hour interactive online course that helps participants learn the core actions of PFA and describes ways to apply them in different post-disaster scenarios and with different survivor needs. This course also covers provider well-being before, during, and after disasters. This course is relevant for new providers who are wanting to be oriented to PFA, as well as for seasoned practitioners who want a review of the PFA concepts.
This 5-hour interactive online training offers certificate of completion with 5 CEs upon completion.

Skills for Psychological Recovery (SPR) is a 5-hour interactive course designed for providers to help survivors gain skills to manage distress and cope with post-disaster stress and adversity. This course is for individuals who want to learn about using SPR, learning the goals and rationale of each core skill, delivering SPR, and supporting survivors in the aftermath of a disaster or traumatic event.
This 5-hour interactive online training offers certificate of completion with 5 CEs upon completion.

Los Primeros Auxilios Psicológicos constituyen un enfoque modular basado en la evidencia y cuyo objetivo es ayudar a niños, adolescentes, adultos y familias a afrontar las consecuencias inmediatas de desastres o actos de terrorismo. En este curso en línea, Rosaura Orengo-Aguayo, PhD, ha adaptado el entrenamiento de PFA en un formato de 3 horas, en Español. Luego de ver este curso en línea, los participantes recibirán 3 créditos de educación continua.

Destrezas para la Recuperación Psicológica (SPR por sus siglas en inglés) es un curso de 3.5 horas diseñado para que los proveedores ayuden a los sobrevivientes a adquirir destrezas para manejar la angustia y afrontar el estrés y la adversidad luego de un desastre. Este curso es para personas que desean aprender sobre el uso de SPR, conocer los objetivos y la justificación para cada destreza básica, brindar SPR y brindar apoyo a los sobrevivientes después de un desastre o evento traumático. Luego de ver este curso en línea, los participantes recibirán 3.5 créditos de educación continua.

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learn: psychological first aid (pfa) and skills for psychological recovery (spr)

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Learn: Psychological First Aid (PFA) and Skills for Psychological Recovery (SPR)

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As part of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN), the Learning Center for Child and Adolescent Trauma offers Free Online Education with: 300+ FREE CE certificates 50+ speakers 200+ online webinars 90,000+ members Psychological First Aid (PFA) and Skills for Psychological Recovery (SPR) are promising practices for disaster behavioral health response and recovery.

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Crisis prevention and threat assessments are an integral part of creating a safe positive learning environment in a school setting. Sometimes events happen that are traumatic and unexpected in schools. School violence can occur anywhere at any time. Being prepared or proactive for these events can help minimize the effects they have on students or even stop the events before they can occur. I feel this assignment was a group project because all crisis prevention plans and threat assessments are created by a group of varying professions/skills working together for the common goal of school safety.

https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/school-safety-and-crisis/school-violence-resources

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https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1mRt08Ui7EFmuUIhss-QmyrK_ANVQbenN7lSGDLWT9sI/edit?usp=sharing

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If a student is being harmed or neglected, counselors are mandatory reporters and must report their suspicions within 48 hours to Child Protective Services.

https://www.dfps.texas.gov/Contact_Us/report_abuse.asp

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Report Abuse

Call our Abuse Hotline toll-free 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, nationwide, or report with our secure website and get a response within 24 hours.
We cannot accept email reports of suspected abuse or neglect.

Emergencies

Call your local law enforcement agency or 911 immediately if you have an emergency or life-threatening situation.
Got Questions About Reporting?
Need Help Reporting Abuse?

Call: 1-800-252-5400. If you can't use the Texas Abuse Hotline you can:

Report online at www.TxAbuseHotline.org

Use the relay service of your choice or use Relay Texas at 7-1-1. Tell the relay operator to call the Texas Abuse Hotline at (800) 252-5400.

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) has a central place to report:

Child abuse and neglect.

Abuse, neglect, self-neglect, and exploitation of the elderly or adults with disabilities living at home.

Abuse of children in child-care facilities or treatment centers.

Abuse of adults and children who live in state facilities or are being helped by programs for people with mental illness or intellectual disabilities. These reports are investigated by HHSC Provider Investigations, not DFPS.

Anyone who has a reasonable cause to believe a child, or person 65 years or older, or an adult with disabilities is being abused, neglected, or exploited must report it to DFPS according to Texas laws.

A person who reports abuse in good faith is immune from civil or criminal liability. DFPS keeps the name of the person making the report confidential. Anyone who does not report suspected abuse can be held liable for a misdemeanor or felony.

Time frames for investigating reports are based on the severity of the allegations. Reporting suspected abuse makes it possible for a family to get help.

Recognizing Signs of Abuse

Legal Definitions of Abuse

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Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS)

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Call our Abuse Hotline toll-free 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, nationwide, or report with our secure website and get a response within 24 hours. We cannot accept email reports of suspected abuse or neglect. Call your local law enforcement agency or 911 immediately if you have an emergency or life-threatening situation.

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If a student requires counseling or assistance that is outside the scope of a school counselor then the student should be referred for outside help. The student should be given a list of resources and counseling options when seeking this help. They should never be given just one choice.

https://www.bridgeportisd.net/cms/lib/TX50000747/Centricity/Domain/88/wcrlist_6_18_19.pdf

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Child Advocacy centers are a wonderful resource for schools. Most people only associate them with the investigation of a child who has been abused but they also provide presentations to schools on very sensitive topics. Their educational programs are offered to schools free of charge and they have presentations in Spanish and English.

https://www.cactx.org/