Working with Suicidal Students by Summer High https://padlet.com/shigh4/6f5uncvakw67 Made by Summer High en-us 2019-12-03 14:57:37 UTC 2019-12-05 16:34:43 UTC hello@padlet.com Slide #13- Best Practices for Compliance shigh4 https://padlet.com/shigh4/6f5uncvakw67/wish/419080555
  • The laws requiring educators and school personnel to have training on suicide is important and beneficial. Teens may be more comfortable telling a teacher rather than their parents or friends. It is important for educators to know the warning signs and to be prepared. 
  • It is important for all educators to be aware of suicide. Suicide ideation is something that teens all over the world struggle with. An educator should be equipped with the proper training to help students get the proper help and care that they need.  
  • The Columbia Suicide Screening is a good tool for counselors to use. It provides questions that a counselor can ask a student who is considering suicide. 
  • Parent/guardian must be notified. The student may not want the parents involved but if a student is hurting themselves in any way, or thinking about hurting themselves an educator must notify a parent/guardian. 
  • Make a safety plan with the student. The safety plan should include coping strategies to take their mind off of it, people that can provide a distraction, and people that can help. 
  • The parent also needs to be informed that since the student made a suicidal outcry that the student needs to be taken for an evaluation by a physician. 
  • On average 123 suicides are committed a day (Suicide Statistics, 2019).
  • Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States (Suicide Statistics, 2019).
  • National Suicide Hotline- 1-800-273-8255

    • American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. (2016). Suicide statistics. Retrieved from https://afsp.org/about-suicide/suicide-statistics/

     The Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, Inc. (2009). Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale. Retrieved from https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Suicide-Risk-Assessment-C-SSRS-Lifeline-Version-2014.pdf
    ]]>     2019-12-03 14:57:37 UTC https://padlet.com/shigh4/6f5uncvakw67/wish/419080555     Slide #12- Non-Law Source shigh4 https://padlet.com/shigh4/6f5uncvakw67/wish/419080557 The Power to Prevent Suicide by Richard E. Nelson, Pamela Espeland, Judith C. Galas, and Bev Cobain discusses suicide prevention for teenagers. 

    • This resource could be helpful to individuals struggling with suicide because it discusses suicide prevention.
    •  It could also be helpful to educators because it gives statistics, signs, and how to seek out help.
    •  It provides information that can help a teen struggling with suicide ideation and how to seek help and how to tell someone. 

    Nelson, R., Espeland, P., Galas, J., & Cobain, B. (2006). The power to prevent suicide: A guide to helping teens. Minneapolis, MN: Free Spirit Publishing.
    ]]>     2019-12-03 14:57:37 UTC https://padlet.com/shigh4/6f5uncvakw67/wish/419080557     Slide #11- Ethical Principle shigh4 https://padlet.com/shigh4/6f5uncvakw67/wish/419080558 The ASCA states that School Counselors must report to parent/guardian and appropriate authorities if a student is harming themselves in anyway. 
    (ASCA, Ethical Standards for School Counselors, 2016).

    It is important for the parent or guardian to be contacted when a student has suicidal ideation because the parent has the opportunity to get that individual the proper help regarding their mental state. Sometimes it can be scary for students and they do not always want their parent/guardian involved. In a situation when a students is hurting themselves or thinking about hurting themselves or others a parent/guardian has to be notified.

    American School Counselors Association. (2016). ASCA ethical standards for school counselors. Retrieved from https://www.schoolcounselor.org/asca/media/asca/Ethics/EthicalStandards2016.pdf 
    ]]>     2019-12-03 14:57:37 UTC https://padlet.com/shigh4/6f5uncvakw67/wish/419080558     Slide #10- Local Policy shigh4 https://padlet.com/shigh4/6f5uncvakw67/wish/419080559 Working together to help students is important! Principals, Counselors, Educators, and Parents can come together to help students fight mental health and suicide ideation. This information provided by Gilmer High School indicates that as a campus and school district we will help individuals along with providing the proper tools and resources needed in support with parent/guardians.

    Gilmer High School Handbook states that "The district is committed to partnering with parents to support the healthy mental, emotional, and behavioral development of its students. If you are concerned about your child, please visit Texas Suicide Prevention or contact the school counselor for more information related to suicide prevention services available in your area."
     (Gilmer High School Handbook, 2019).

    Gilmer High School. (2019, November 19). Student Handbook, Suicide Awareness and Mental Health Support. Retrieved from https://s3.amazonaws.com/scschoolfiles/2046/ghs_student_handbook_2019-2020.pdf ]]>     2019-12-03 14:57:37 UTC https://padlet.com/shigh4/6f5uncvakw67/wish/419080559     Slide #9- Whooley v. Tamalpais Union School District shigh4 https://padlet.com/shigh4/6f5uncvakw67/wish/419080560 - Judicial Law

    This court case is against a mother and a school district. The mother of a student named Gabriel who has a 504 plan because of his severe anxiety regarding academics and processing skills. Before taking exams of any kind Gabriel would become very anxious. Before he took his ACT test he contacted the person who handled accommodations and got no response. He then contacted the ACT organization and found out that his accommodations were never filed by Drake High School. 
    • The mother claims that her son committed suicide because the school did not implement his accommodation plan while also breaking state and federal laws.
       (Whooley v. Tamalpais Union High School, 2019)
    • Whooley claimed that since the school did not follow her sons accommodations for his disability that it caused her son to have severe anxiety which led to the impulse to commit suicide. 
    •  The court ruled against negligence of the school system because the student was still alive when Whooley found him hanging in his bedroom.
     
    Whooley v. Tamalpais Union High School District, 399 F.Supp.3d 986, 2019
    ]]>     2019-12-03 14:57:37 UTC https://padlet.com/shigh4/6f5uncvakw67/wish/419080560     Slide #8- Supporting Safe and Healthy Students shigh4 https://padlet.com/shigh4/6f5uncvakw67/wish/419080562 - Statutory Law

    This law is beneficial because it sets in place school trainings and providing a safe and health environment for students. It also outlines preventions that should be implemented for students struggling in those areas. 

    • United States Code chapter 20 § 7188 discusses school training and implementing programs that support healthy and safe activities. 
    • It discusses prevention for suicide students, violence prevention, drug abuse prevention, and bullying prevention.
       (20, USC § 7188)
    • Providing safe environments for students that promote and support academic achievement. 

    Activities to Support Safe and Healthy Students, 20 USC § 7188
    ]]>     2019-12-03 14:57:37 UTC https://padlet.com/shigh4/6f5uncvakw67/wish/419080562     Slide #7- Education Code for Educators shigh4 https://padlet.com/shigh4/6f5uncvakw67/wish/419080563 - Administrative Law

    This law is beneficial because it sets in place that all educators must be trained on suicide prevention. It is important for all educators to be aware of signs that students might show in regards to suicide ideation. Students may become withdrawn or have a significant change in behavior. It is important for educators to be aware of these signs among other things so that they can get the student the help that they need.  
    •  Tex. Education Code. § 21.451 Educators are required to attend staff development training on suicide prevention 
       (2, TAC § 21.451) 
    • Training can be online but must comply with specific guidelines. 
    • Training also includes mental health training and recognizing signs
     
    Staff Development, 2, Tex. Admin § 21.451 
    ]]>     2019-12-03 14:57:37 UTC https://padlet.com/shigh4/6f5uncvakw67/wish/419080563     Slide #6 - Education Code for School Counselors shigh4 https://padlet.com/shigh4/6f5uncvakw67/wish/419080566 - Administrative Law

    This law is beneficial because it outlines the responsibility of a school counselor and how to help students in all areas to meet their social, emotional, and academic needs. 

    •  Tex. Education Code § 33.006 says that counselors are to serve all individuals and address those who are at risk of substance abuse and suicide.
       (2, TAC § 33.006)
    • Counselors are to create a guidance counseling curriculum based on the needs of the individuals.
    • A counselor is to counsel students and meet their individual needs whether that be academic, personal, or social. 

    General Duties School Counselors, 2 Tex. Admin § 33.006 
    ]]>     2019-12-03 14:57:37 UTC https://padlet.com/shigh4/6f5uncvakw67/wish/419080566     Slide #5- Current Article- Education Dive- Mental Health in the States shigh4 https://padlet.com/shigh4/6f5uncvakw67/wish/419080568 This article briefly discusses a high school in Virginia and how on each campus they had individuals suffering with suicide ideation. It is a state law in Virginia to have a mental health education for students in the 9th and 10th grade (Hood, 2019). 

    The article also discusses- 
    • Multiple approaches to mental health awareness - some states have it in the works to bring more awareness to the serious matter. 
    • Florida Department of Education did a survey that released information regarding mental health percentages in high school students. In 2017 "14% said they seriously considered attempting suicide, 11% said they had made plans to commit suicide, and 8% said they tried to commit suicide" (Hood, 2019, par. 13). 
    • "New York was the first state to enact a law requiring mental health education in public schools" (Hood, 2019, par. 22).  
    • ASCA also makes a statement in the article that they wish to see more counselor to student ratio in hopes to help more programs and policies come to life in regards to mental health awareness. 

    Hood, L. (2019). More states requiring mental health education. Education Dive. Retrieved from https://www.educationdive.com/news/more-states-requiring-mental-health-education/561250/
    ]]>     2019-12-03 14:57:37 UTC https://padlet.com/shigh4/6f5uncvakw67/wish/419080568     Slide #4- Current Article- Education Week- Suicide shigh4 https://padlet.com/shigh4/6f5uncvakw67/wish/419080569
  • Provide an environment that is welcoming 
  • Educating staff and students about depression and suicide 
  • Address any type of bullying immediately 

    These are a few of the things the article discusses about how to address suicide on the rise in schools. The article also discusses that the Center for Disease Control (CDC) found that in 2017 in the United States 47,000 people committed suicide (Stark, 2018). 

    • Stark, L. (2018). Suicide 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
    ]]>     2019-12-03 14:57:37 UTC https://padlet.com/shigh4/6f5uncvakw67/wish/419080569     Slide #3 - Professional Association shigh4 https://padlet.com/shigh4/6f5uncvakw67/wish/419080570 In the Model School District Policy Webinar through the American Counselors Association (ASCA), it provides the proper resources to create a suicide prevention plan on campuses.  This webinar allows for counselors and educators to become more aware with mental health and suicide prevention. It is also helpful because it gives the proper resources to create a suicide prevention policy for a school district. The webinar provides resources considering LGBTQ youth and suicidal individuals and state policy development (ASCA, 2019).

    American School Counselor Association. (2016). ASCA ethical standards for school counselors. Retrieved from https://www.
    schoolcounselor.org/asca/media
    /asca/Ethics/EthicalStandards2016.pdf

    ]]>     2019-12-03 14:57:37 UTC https://padlet.com/shigh4/6f5uncvakw67/wish/419080570     Slide #2 - Interview shigh4 https://padlet.com/shigh4/6f5uncvakw67/wish/419080571 Interview conducted-
    I interviewed Leah Erickson who is the Lead Counselor at Gilmer High School.

    Why working with suicidal students is important- It is important because of a various array of things like: improving mental health of students, safety of students, bringing awareness, following suicide protocol, it is seen more often in schools now so it is important to help those students work through what they are going through

    Best practices- A few things that are important and considered best practices are: Columbia Suicide Screening, Calling parents/guardian, Safety Plan, if it is an outcry -send for evaluation, talk to student upon returning to school

    Emerging Issue- Signs of suicide ideation, self-harm signs, signs of change in behavior

    Knowing signs and being aware of the students in the classroom is important. By knowing students on a personal level and having a relationship with those students allows for the student to want to open up an talk. Change in hygiene, behavior, and withdrawing from friends and activities are signs to keep an eye out for.

    Gilmer ISD. (2019). Counselors Page. Retrieved from https://ghs.gilmerisd.org/248028_2

    Link to Counselors page- ]]>     2019-12-03 14:57:37 UTC https://padlet.com/shigh4/6f5uncvakw67/wish/419080571     Slide #1 - Professional Perspective shigh4 https://padlet.com/shigh4/6f5uncvakw67/wish/419080572 My professional perspective is that I am working as an art teacher while getting my M.Ed. in Guidance Counseling. This padlet is meant to help educate teachers and counselors about working with suicidal students. I chose this topic because over the past seven years of teaching and four of them being at the high school level, I have encountered students who have struggled with suicidal thoughts. Over the years I have had many students seek help because of their suicidal thoughts. It is a topic that I hold close to my heart and I believe it is important for educators to know how to help students struggling with suicidal ideation. If an educator is equipped with the proper training and tools to help students I believe it will be very beneficial to those students struggling with suicide ideation. ]]> 2019-12-03 14:57:37 UTC https://padlet.com/shigh4/6f5uncvakw67/wish/419080572