Suicide Prevention by https://padlet.com/m_mclaurin/8zarar54iugl7t7k en-us 2022-07-20 02:06:03 UTC 2026-02-26 01:00:16 UTC hello@padlet.com Professional Perspective m_mclaurin https://padlet.com/m_mclaurin/8zarar54iugl7t7k/wish/2246570639 I will be speaking from the perspective of a school counselor over grades 6th-12th at a high school campus. The purpose of this padlet is for school personnel to be able to recognize the signs of suicide risk and to make appropriate referrals. Educators need regular training to help them build the skills and confidence to identify and assist vulnerable youth in seeking help. I chose this topic due to suicide rates being on the rise. For the past 10 years, children and teens have been taking their own lives at alarming rates. 

UC Davis Health. (2021). Even before COVID-19 pandemic, youth suicide already at record high. https://health.ucdavis.edu/news/headlines/even-before-covid-19-pandemic-youth-suicide-already-at-record-high/2021/04]]> 2022-07-20 02:19:58 UTC https://padlet.com/m_mclaurin/8zarar54iugl7t7k/wish/2246570639 Professional Association m_mclaurin https://padlet.com/m_mclaurin/8zarar54iugl7t7k/wish/2246595134 American School Counselor Association (ASCA). (2020). The school counselor and suicide risk assessment. 

https://www.schoolcounselor.org/Standards-Positions/Position-Statements/ASCA-Position-Statements/The-School-Counselor-and-Suicide-Risk-Assessment

This ASCA position statement is extremely informative because it gives a school counselor a step by step process of the school counselor's role if they were to be put in a position dealing with this topic. "School counselors support best practice in suicide prevention to reduce suicide risk in children and adolescents and are part of a collaborative team who respond when students are identified as at-risk for suicide. When becoming aware of a student considering suicide, school counselors assert their ethical and legal responsibility to report suspected suicide risk to parents/ guardians and the appropriate authorities" (ASCA, 2020).

]]> 2022-07-20 02:50:40 UTC https://padlet.com/m_mclaurin/8zarar54iugl7t7k/wish/2246595134 U.S News and World Report Article m_mclaurin https://padlet.com/m_mclaurin/8zarar54iugl7t7k/wish/2246611211 Johnson, S. (2022, April 25). Study: adolescents accounted for larger share of suicides in 2020. U.S News and World Report. https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2022-04-25/study-shows-higher-share-of-adolescent-suicides-in-2020

The purpose of this article is to make readers aware of the increase in adolescent suicides since the COVID-19 pandemic. "In October, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the Children’s Hospital Association issued a joint declaration of a national emergency in child and adolescent mental health. The groups cited the pandemic’s impact and the struggle for racial justice, and noted intensified rates of childhood mental health concerns over the past decade" (U.S News, 2022). ]]> 2022-07-20 03:11:13 UTC https://padlet.com/m_mclaurin/8zarar54iugl7t7k/wish/2246611211 CNN Health Article m_mclaurin https://padlet.com/m_mclaurin/8zarar54iugl7t7k/wish/2246619993 Rogers, K. (2022, April 25). Adolescent suicides increased in 5 US states during the pandemic. Why parents should be concerned. CNN Health. https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/25/health/teen-suicide-increase-pandemic-study-wellness/index.html

The purpose of this article is to inform readers about the rise of adolescent suicides. The article mentions common signs to be aware of if you think an adolescent is thinking about suicide. 
  • "Changes in eating and sleeping habits"
  • Loss of interest in activities or school
  • "Neglecting one's personal appearance"
  • "Obsession with death and dying"
  • More complaints of physical ailments linked to emotional distress
  • "Problems focusing"
  • "Lack of response to praise"
  • "Verbal hints such as 'I won't be a problem much longer' or 'If anything happens to me, I want you to know...'"
  • Giving or throwing away cherished belongings
  • Cheeriness after a depressive episode (CNN Health, 2022).
]]> 2022-07-20 03:23:15 UTC https://padlet.com/m_mclaurin/8zarar54iugl7t7k/wish/2246619993 Constitutional Law m_mclaurin https://padlet.com/m_mclaurin/8zarar54iugl7t7k/wish/2246624300 2022-07-20 03:29:29 UTC https://padlet.com/m_mclaurin/8zarar54iugl7t7k/wish/2246624300 Statutory Law m_mclaurin https://padlet.com/m_mclaurin/8zarar54iugl7t7k/wish/2246624542 2022-07-20 03:29:55 UTC https://padlet.com/m_mclaurin/8zarar54iugl7t7k/wish/2246624542 Judicial Law m_mclaurin https://padlet.com/m_mclaurin/8zarar54iugl7t7k/wish/2246624669 State: Nguyen v. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2018
https://cases.justia.com/massachusetts/supreme-court/2018-sjc-12329.pdf?ts=1525781117

In this case, MIT was sued for not preventing the suicide of a student. While the court ruled that MIT was not liable for the student's death in this case, it did find that colleges have a duty to prevent suicides and can sued for failing to do so in future cases. In some circumstances the court also ruled that professors and others could be sued for failing to help prevent suicide.

]]> 2022-07-20 03:30:11 UTC https://padlet.com/m_mclaurin/8zarar54iugl7t7k/wish/2246624669 Administrative Law m_mclaurin https://padlet.com/m_mclaurin/8zarar54iugl7t7k/wish/2246624817 2022-07-20 03:30:27 UTC https://padlet.com/m_mclaurin/8zarar54iugl7t7k/wish/2246624817 Local Administrative Law/ Policy/ Rule m_mclaurin https://padlet.com/m_mclaurin/8zarar54iugl7t7k/wish/2246630712 Grand Prairie Independent School District. (2022). Suicide prevention. https://www.gpisd.org/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&DomainID=12250&ModuleInstanceID=49167&ViewID=6446EE88-D30C-497E-9316-3F8874B3E108&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=47969&PageID=43250

At the beginning of each school year Grand Prairie ISD provides staff, students, and parents with suicide prevention training. This makes them aware of suicide recognition and even gives students a crisis text line and mental health 24 hour hotlines. ]]> 2022-07-20 03:40:03 UTC https://padlet.com/m_mclaurin/8zarar54iugl7t7k/wish/2246630712 Ethical Principle m_mclaurin https://padlet.com/m_mclaurin/8zarar54iugl7t7k/wish/2246632249 According to the American School Counseling Association (ASCA) Ethical Standards for School Counseling under A.9.b, it states "Recognize the level of suicide risk (e.g., low, medium, high) is difficult to accurately quantify. If required to use a risk assessment, it must be completed with the realization that it is an information-gathering tool and only one element in the risk-assessment process. When reporting risk-assessment results to parents/guardians, school counselors do not negate the risk of harm to self even if the assessment reveals a low risk, as students may minimize risk to avoid further scrutiny and/or parental/guardian notification. The purpose of reporting any risk-assessment results to parents/guardians is to underscore the need for parents/guardians to act, not to report a judgment of risk" (ASCA, 2022). 

American School Counselor Association (2022). ASCA Ethical standards for school counselors. https://www.schoolcounselor.org/About-School-Counseling/Ethical-Legal-Responsibilities/ASCA-Ethical-Standards-for-School-Counselors-(1)]]> 2022-07-20 03:42:39 UTC https://padlet.com/m_mclaurin/8zarar54iugl7t7k/wish/2246632249 Personal Connection to the Legal and Ethical Standards m_mclaurin https://padlet.com/m_mclaurin/8zarar54iugl7t7k/wish/2246634722 By reviewing the ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors it allowed me to understand the importance of the school counselor role. School counselors have an ethical obligation to protect their students and are in an ideal position to educate students and school personnel about the risks and warning signs of suicide. Ethical issues such as counselor competence, school responsibility, and community buy in are important considerations for educators. As a future school counselor, I want to be able to implement training in suicide recognition to all staff, and present guidance lessons for students. By doing this teachers and students are empowered by understanding suicide and equipped with the necessary tools to address it. Together, all of us can provide a support system to help our students find a safe place when they are troubled. ]]> 2022-07-20 03:46:45 UTC https://padlet.com/m_mclaurin/8zarar54iugl7t7k/wish/2246634722 Bulleted List of Recommendations/ Best Practices for Compliance m_mclaurin https://padlet.com/m_mclaurin/8zarar54iugl7t7k/wish/2246636059
  • Always follow the school crisis protocol steps
  • Immediately interview a student who made crisis outcry to identify crisis type and severity
  • Notify parents, guardians or child protective services and campus administration of crisis
  • Assist family or school personnel with crisis intervention (e.g., providing outside counseling referrals)
  • Submit a crisis report to administration for documentation purposes
  • Follow-up with the student within 48 hours after crisis intervention
    • ]]>     2022-07-20 03:48:58 UTC https://padlet.com/m_mclaurin/8zarar54iugl7t7k/wish/2246636059     m_mclaurin https://padlet.com/m_mclaurin/8zarar54iugl7t7k/wish/2247112824 Federal: National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020. 
    Citation: National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020, Public law 116-172, 116th Congress. https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/2661/text

    This act made it much easier to reach National Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Crisis Lifeline by adopting 988 as a new three digit number for easier and quicker access. In order for 988 to work, providers would have to make necessary infrastructure changes to support this service.

    ]]>     2022-07-20 20:43:29 UTC https://padlet.com/m_mclaurin/8zarar54iugl7t7k/wish/2247112824     m_mclaurin https://padlet.com/m_mclaurin/8zarar54iugl7t7k/wish/2247113590 State: Suicide Prevention Act 2021
    Citation: Suicide Prevention Act 2021. 42 U.S.C 247b- 23. https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2955/text

    This is a two grant bill which provided programs for preventing self harm and suicide. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention would be responsible for awarding grants to state and local health departments. These individual departments would expand monitoring of episodes of self-harm. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration would be responsible for awarding grants to hospital emergency departments. They would develop programs to help prevent suicide of patients after they are discharged.

    ]]>     2022-07-20 20:46:23 UTC https://padlet.com/m_mclaurin/8zarar54iugl7t7k/wish/2247113590     m_mclaurin https://padlet.com/m_mclaurin/8zarar54iugl7t7k/wish/2247119389 State: Texas law: Texas Education Code- Staff Development
    Citation: Tex. Education Code § 33.006 (a) and (b), http://www.sccenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Texas_laws_suicide.pdf

    This law specifies all the responsibilities of the school counselor in areas of academics, career, personal, and social abilities. It also includes the counselor's responsibility to special needs of students who may be at risk of committing suicide.

    ]]>     2022-07-20 21:08:15 UTC https://padlet.com/m_mclaurin/8zarar54iugl7t7k/wish/2247119389     Interview with Staci Jenkins m_mclaurin https://padlet.com/m_mclaurin/8zarar54iugl7t7k/wish/2247733663 In my interview with Staci Jenkins, the high school counselor for Christoval ISD we discussed just how important it was for schools to discuss suicide prevention with staff and students. 

    Suicide prevention is crucial to implement in schools because the alternative would be suicide recovery. Students typically seek out counselors to help them and provide clues to counselors of self harm. It is important to be able to provide suicide prevention for times like these. 

    In light of the recent spike in anxiety and mental health concerns, it has changed the way that every student is dealt with when they come to the counselor's office. Counselors have to make sure they are listening intently to any clues or messages that students give you about how they are feeling or doing. Counselors have to really make sure they are listening to make sure all students' needs are met. 

    Best practices:
    • Being informed about signs of suicidal thoughts 
    • Being knowledgeable about resources available
    • Preparing students, staff, colleagues and parents to recognize warning symptoms for suicidal behavior

    Transgender students and students with mental health concerns have become an emerging issues. Counselors have to be aware of how to best meet their needs, how to communicate with parents, and what they can disclose and not disclose. There is so much changing right now in this area and counselors need to conscious of student privacy. Mental illness and transgender students are emerging and definitely need support from school counselors. 

    (S.Jenkins, personal communications, July 14, 2022)
    ]]>     2022-07-21 18:17:46 UTC https://padlet.com/m_mclaurin/8zarar54iugl7t7k/wish/2247733663     m_mclaurin https://padlet.com/m_mclaurin/8zarar54iugl7t7k/wish/2248672520 https://stacijenkins.wixsite.com/mysite]]> 2022-07-24 03:52:30 UTC https://padlet.com/m_mclaurin/8zarar54iugl7t7k/wish/2248672520