I selected this topic because there has been a rise in the number of suicides by children.  We have experienced threats and attempts on our K-4 campus this year. There is limited legislation about suicide so this guide will serve as a resource for best practices and interventions.

Suicide is a serious issue and requires a solid action plan and clear policies. The Texas Education code requires districts to include suicide prevention programs in their district improvement plans. Before coming to Watts Elementary, Hartley helped write the crisis plan for Northside Independent School District. She also noted that David’s Law was written to prevent bullying in schools which can lead to suicide (N. Hartley, personal communication, March 4, 2021). 

Campuses should conduct annual training on signs of suicide and what steps to take if a student makes a threat or an attempt. All staff should be included in the training and have a clear understanding of the policies and procedures.

By knowing your students, you are better able to recognize warning signs. Being aware of their home life allows you to understand what kind of support they have beyond school. It is important to have a relationship with all students and do your best to get to know them.

When interviewing students who have attempted suicide or made threats, you must be direct in your questioning.  The vocabulary attached to suicide such as “die” or “kill yourself” can seem harsh for elementary students, but that kind of direct questioning is necessary in these situations (N. Hartley, personal communication, March 4, 2021).

Covid has created a lot of change and stress for students and their families.  This type of stress can lead to depression and anxiety which can be triggers for suicidal thoughts and tendencies. Hartley attended a training on the language associated with suicide at Region 20. During this training she learned that saying “committed suicide” gives the stigma that the person has committed a crime. It is better to say the person died by suicide. In addition to this training she tries to read literature to keep her up-to-date on best practices (N. Hartley, personal communication, March 4, 2021).  

Granello, P. F., & Zyromski, B. (2019). Developing a comprehensive school suicide prevention program. Professional School Counseling, 22(1), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F2156759X18808128

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/2156759X18808128

·         Failed to respond the to the persistent bullying

·         Failed to inform the parents of the incidents

·         Lacked supervision of the student bathrooms

·         Knew the full extent to which Taye was being bullied and that a risk of bullying is suicide

Reference:

Walsh, M. (2020). Federal appeals court lets lawsuit proceed against educators in student’s suicide. Education Week. https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/federal-appeals-court-lets-lawsuit-proceed-against-educators-in-students-suicide/2020/12

·         Discussing the impact suicide can have on the students left behind

·         Reviewing the rise in mental health issues among students

·         Identifying the limited resources schools have available to deal with the mental health needs of students

·         Exploring different reasons for the increase in suicide

Reference:

Prothero, A. (2019). Teen suicide rising sharply, federal data show. Education Week. https://www.edweek.org/leadership/teen-suicides-rising-sharply-federal-data-show/2019/10

Section 21 of the first article of the Texas Constitution prohibits the forfeiture of estates, including in cases of suicide (Tex. Const. art. I, § XXI).

Section 11.252 of the Texas Education Code requires districts to create a district improvement plan that includes:

·         Suicide prevention programs

·         Parental/guardian notification procedure

(Tex. Educ. Code § 11.252)

Reference: Tex. Educ. Code § 11.252

The Texas Administrative Code requires:

·         All school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to provide suicide prevention training to all educators

·         School districts to maintain records of each educator who received the training

(19 TAC § 153.1013)

Reference: Suicide Prevention Training, 19 Tex. Admin. Code § 153.1013

In Nguyen v. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2018) the Supreme Court ruled that:

·         schools can be held liable for suicides if they fail to intervene after learning that a student has attempted or threatened suicide while enrolled

·         this ruling had significant impact in that it extends this responsibility to prevent suicide beyond those on campus with mental health expertise

(Nguyen v. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2018)

Reference: Nguyen v. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 479 Mass. 436 (2018).

Reference:

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

·         Each district should have a suicide prevention and response plan or policy (Tex. Educ. Code § 11.252; Granello & Zyromski, 2019). These policies must be clearly communicated to all gatekeepers.

·         Teachers and counselors must know their students and be aware of what protective factors they have in place (N. Hartley, personal communication, March 4, 2021). Knowing your students allows staff to identify change in behavior and possible signs of suicide.

·         Supervision of students should be increased outside of instructional settings such as the playground or bathroom (Walsh, 2020).

·         Use direct language when questioning a student who has attempted suicide or made threats (N. Hartley, personal communication, March 4, 2021). Asking direct questions such as “did you want to kill yourself?” is necessary to have a clear understanding of where the student is at emotionally. 

·         Respond to bullying immediately and have a process to notify the parents of the victim (Walsh, 2020). Each campus should have a curriculum and policies that address bullying. Students who are victims of bullying have an increased risk of suicide.

·         Counselors must break confidentiality if a student appears to be in danger of harming themselves (American School Counselor Association, 2016). The need to break confidentiality should have been explained to the student prior to the session. 

References:

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

Granello, P. F., & Zyromski, B. (2019). Developing a comprehensive school suicide prevention program. Professional School Counseling, 22(1), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F2156759X18808128

Suicide Prevention Training, 19 Tex. Admin. Code § 153.1013

Tex. Educ. Code § 11.252

Walsh, M. (2020). Federal appeals court lets lawsuit proceed against educators in student’s suicide. Education Week. https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/federal-appeals-court-lets-lawsuit-proceed-against-educators-in-students-suicide/2020/12