Legal and Ethical Guide- Working With Suicidal Students. by https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d Made with eyes on the prize en-us 2022-02-22 21:45:17 UTC 2022-03-06 12:49:31 UTC hello@padlet.com Reference evelynjoseph1 https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d/wish/2067669223
Amerca's Health Ranking. (2022). Teen suicide. retrieved from https://www.americashealthrankings.org/explore/health-of-women-and-children/measure/teen_suicide/state/ALL]]> 2022-02-26 18:07:03 UTC https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d/wish/2067669223 Current Issue: https://kappanonline.org/student-suicide-school-liability-underwood/ evelynjoseph1 https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d/wish/2067822584  There is a case in the Ohio court system involving a student who expressed thoughts of suicide. The school counselor was informed about the student's threat of suicide. The first time it was brought to her attention, the school counselor informed his parents, talk to the student, and recommended that he sees a medical professional.  His father sought medical help for the child. The school counselor was notified that the student continued to make suicidal threats. This time the school counselor did nothing. The student followed through with his threat and commit suicide. The school and the school counselors were both being sued by his father for negligence. However, the trial court found that the school counselor was negligent and would stand trial. They also determined that the school was protected under the state's qualified immunity laws. The school counselors appeal the decision to the Ohio Courts of Appeals. They sided with the trial court and found that the school counselor acted with a conscious disregard to a known or obvious risk of harm. Ohio Courts of Appeals found that the school was not liable but upheld the case against the school counselors in the Baab v. Medina City School Board of Education (Ohio Ct. App. 2019).

The results of this case should be proof that schools counselors should follow the school, district, state laws, and procedures when working with students who may be suicidal. ]]> 2022-02-27 00:29:10 UTC https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d/wish/2067822584 Professional Interview evelynjoseph1 https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d/wish/2067822628 Anabel Stiles is a school counselor at Richard E. Cavazos Elementary school in Killeen ISD. She has worked for the district for 26 years, as a teacher, librarian, and now as an elementary school counselor. ]]> 2022-02-27 00:29:21 UTC https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d/wish/2067822628 ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors - American School Counselor Association (ASCA)https://www.schoolcounselor.org/getmedia/f041cbd0-7004-47a5-ba01-3a5d657c6743/Ethical-Standards.pdf evelynjoseph1 https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d/wish/2067920201 ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors (2016), A.9. Serious and Foreseeable Harm to Self and Others outlines how school counselors should respond when dealing with a suicidal student. A.9. c. requires that school counselors should not release a study who is deemed to be a danger to themselves or others until they are confident that the study has the necessary support from parents or guardians. 

A.9.c. Do not release a student who is a danger to self or others until the student has the proper and necessary support. If parents will not provide proper support, the school counselor takes necessary steps to underscore to parents/guardians the necessity to seek help and at times may include a report to child protective services.



]]> 2022-02-27 04:46:23 UTC https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d/wish/2067920201 Interview Summary evelynjoseph1 https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d/wish/2074498181 The interview focused on the procedures and protocols to be implemented when working with a suicidal student. Mrs. Stiles explained that she has worked with two students who expressed a desire to self-harm. The first student was a fourth-grader who threatened to kill himself and the second student was a kindergartener who talked about killing herself so she could go to heaven. In both cases, Mrs. Stiles explained that she followed KISD student suicide/self-harm protocol which clearly states the counselor's role in this case. 
a. Isolate students from peers if possible
b. Talk with students and assess the seriousness of the threat.
c. Ask directly if the student has entertained thoughts of suicide. 
d. Do not leave students alone.
e. Contact parent/guardian
f. Ask the student to sign a "contract for safety" and if he or she refuses document refusal.
g. Provide paent/guardian 
h. Work with the parents/guardians, students, administrators, and teachers to develop and document a plan to monitor the student.
i. Notify Campus Administrator and document report in school and the Director of Elementary Guidance Services.



]]> 2022-03-02 22:22:06 UTC https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d/wish/2074498181 Best Practices evelynjoseph1 https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d/wish/2076216829 1. Know the school's protocol in advance of dealing with a suicidal student. Trying to read up on how to respond when you are dealing with a suicidal student is both unprofessional and dangerous. 
2. Understand the district's protocols and become familiar with the suicidal assessment your district uses. KISD uses the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale to determine if a student is in imminent danger of self-harm. 
3. Understand the laws that govern how a school counselor should respond to a suicidal student in your state. Understand what actions or inactions could render you liable in this situation.
4. Follow the steps outlined in ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors (2016). A.9 Serious and Foreseeable Harm to Self and Others. ]]> 2022-03-03 16:44:59 UTC https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d/wish/2076216829 evelynjoseph1 https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d/wish/2076244555 I am taking the perspective of a school counselor at Richard E. Cavazos Elementary school. It is a title l school in Killeen ISD.  School counselors should be committed to the emotional, academic, and mental well-being of all students. 

I chose this topic because there has been a disturbing trend that shows an increase in suicide among teenagers across America. According to America's Health Ranking, (2022) suicide is the second leading cause of death amongst children between the age of 10-24.  I am hoping that together the staff members here at Cavazos Elementary would work together to help our current students develop healthy ways to deal with life stressors.]]> 2022-03-03 16:57:42 UTC https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d/wish/2076244555 References evelynjoseph1 https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d/wish/2076386310 https://kappanonline.org/student-suicide-school-liability-underwood/
ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors (2016). ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors - American School Counselor Association (ASCA)]]> 2022-03-03 18:07:41 UTC https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d/wish/2076386310 American Counseling Association evelynjoseph1 https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d/wish/2076774433 https://www.counseling.org/news/aca-blogs/aca-counseling-corner/aca-counseling-corner-blog/2019/03/04/we-can-do-something-about-teen-suicide

This article highlights some disturbing facts about the teen suicide rate in America. Suicide has become the second leading cause of death amongst teens and young adults between the age of 10-24. Disturbingly if the data for death resulting from heart disease, cancer, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, influenza, and chronic lung disease were combined, they will result in less death per year than teen suicide. 



]]> 2022-03-03 22:51:54 UTC https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d/wish/2076774433 Reference evelynjoseph1 https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d/wish/2076785566 American Counseling Association. (2022). https://www.counseling.org/news/aca-blogs/aca-counseling-corner/aca-counseling-corner-blog/2019/03/04/we-can-do-something-about-teen-suicide]]> 2022-03-03 23:06:14 UTC https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d/wish/2076785566 Education Week evelynjoseph1 https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d/wish/2076788037 https://www.edweek.org/leadership/teen-suicides-rising-sharply-federal-data-show/2019/10

The leading cause of death for children between the age of 10-19 years old,
1. accidents.
2. suicide
3. homicide
This shocking revelation is one of the focuses of author Arianna Prothero as explained in an October 2019 article in Education Week. Prothero also highlights that over a ten-year period, (2007-2017), teen suicide has increased by 76 percent. One of the contributing factors that Prothero (2019), attributed to the sharp increase is growing mental health problems in teens. She interviewed Professor Steph Brock a school psychology program coordinator at California State University. He stated that 9 out of 10 people who died from suicide also struggled with mental health issues. Disturbingly the types of mental health issues and the severity of the mental health issues are showing a sharp uptick as well.



]]> 2022-03-03 23:09:16 UTC https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d/wish/2076788037 Inside Higher Education evelynjoseph1 https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d/wish/2076793157 https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2022/02/03/multiple-suicides-leave-wpi-reeling
In the February 3rd, issue of Inside Higher ED. Josh Moody wrote an article depicting seven students' death at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), (2022). He states that student mental health issues, which were already a concern across America, got incredibly worse over the pandemic. The seven deaths at WPI occurred over an eight-month span. Three of the seven deaths are confirmed suicides, the others are under investigation. Prior to these confirmed suicides, WPI had two suicides in 15 years. In an attempt to address students' concerns and mental health issues, WPI launched its Mental Health and Well-being Taskforce which is made up of 35 students, faculty, and staff.  The task force is hoping to identify student mental health needs, triggers, as well as to provide mental health services. 

]]> 2022-03-03 23:15:47 UTC https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d/wish/2076793157 Judicial Law evelynjoseph1 https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d/wish/2077187557 https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/5619/text
Suicide Prevention Act

In September 2020, the US Congress passed a law (42 U.S.C. 247b–23) giving State, local, Tribal, and territorial public health agencies grants to expand their existing surveillance of self-harm programs. Congress will also be allowed to collect data from each program on nonfatal suicide attempts and fatally suicides. 

]]> 2022-03-04 03:19:14 UTC https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d/wish/2077187557 Constitutional Law-The Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution evelynjoseph1 https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d/wish/2077242356 https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/fourteenth_amendment_0

The Privacy Rights Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment- U.S. Const. amend. XIV. The United States Supreme Court established limits to the privacy clause in Washington v. Glucksberg, 521 U.S. 702 (1997) The supreme court ruled that assisted suicide was not right given to Americans under substantive due process. This case makes it difficult to argue
that a person who attempts to commit suicide has the right to do so.
 Washington v. Glucksberg, 521 U.S. 702 (1997),  .

]]> 2022-03-04 03:56:41 UTC https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d/wish/2077242356 Legislative Law evelynjoseph1 https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d/wish/2077259715 https://www.pbminc.com/blog/2021/08/texas-2021-%E2%80%93-texas-legislation-passes-house-bill-279-focus-children%E2%80%99s-mental-health#:~:text=One%20of%20those%20bills%20focused,printed%20on%20their%20ID%20cards. 



is Texas helping us to accomplish this?
During the 2021 Texas Legislative Session, Legislation passed a series of bills in support of children’s mental health. One of those bills focused on suicide prevention. On June 14, 2021, Legislature passed the Texas 2021 – House Bill 279 which requires all Texas students 6th grade & up to have suicide prevention information printed on their ID cards.
Texas Education Code Chapter 38, ex. Education Code.§.38.0591 allows for the school districts to partner with local mental health agencies.





]]> 2022-03-04 04:09:08 UTC https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d/wish/2077259715 Texas Administrative Code evelynjoseph1 https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d/wish/2077264787 https://texreg.sos.state.tx.us/public/readtac$ext.TacPage?sl=R&app=9&p_dir=&p_rloc=&p_tloc=&p_ploc=&pg=1&p_tac=&ti=37&pt=11&ch=351&rl=13


Texas Administrative Code 37 Tex. admin. code § 351.1-2  identifies the legal framework that educational agencies should use as the foundation for their suicide prevention plan. 
(d) Suicidal Youth.  
(1) Prevention Plan.    
(A) Each facility shall have a written suicide prevention plan developed in consultation with a mental health professional that addresses the following components:     
 (i) definitions of high risk and moderate risk suicidal behavior;      
(ii) screening methodology to assess a resident's risk of suicide upon admission and upon any indication a resident previously screened may now be at moderate or high risk for suicidal behavior;     
 (iii) communication among facility staff, mental health professionals, the resident, and the resident's parent or guardian including communication regarding observations or indications a resident previously screened may now be at moderate or high risk for suicidal behavior;      
(iv) level of supervision for residents assigned to moderate or high risk for suicidal behavior;      
(v) policy and procedure for intervening in suicide attempts;  (vi) reporting of resident suicides and attempted suicides in accordance with any applicable state law, administrative standard, or local policy or ordinance;      
(vii) training on the contents and implementation of the suicide prevention plan;      
(viii) housing of residents assigned to moderate or high risk of suicidal behavior including the removal from the resident's presence any dangerous objects; and      (ix) mortality reviews designed to review the facility's compliance and possible needed revisions to the suicide prevention plan following a resident's suicide.]]> 2022-03-04 04:12:24 UTC https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d/wish/2077264787 Reference evelynjoseph1 https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d/wish/2078835605 Moody, J. (2022). Inside Higher Ed. Multiple suicides leave WPI reeling. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2022/02/03/multiple-suicides-leave-wpi-reeling]]> 2022-03-05 02:33:33 UTC https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d/wish/2078835605 https://www.killeenisd.org/WebData/DocumentViewer/StudentHandbookEnglish.pdf evelynjoseph1 https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d/wish/2078891396 Killeen Independent School District student handbook, (p.45. 2022), list the district's policy for addressing mental health, behavioral health and substance abuse. Each can be a contributor for suicide.

Mental Health Support (All Levels)
The district has implemented programs to address the following mental health, behavioral health, and substance abuse
concerns:
• Mental health promotion and early intervention;
• Building skills to manage emotions, establish and maintain positive relationships, and engage in
responsible decision-making;
• Substance abuse prevention and intervention;
46
• Suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention (interventions after a suicide in a community);
• Grief, trauma, and trauma-informed care;
• Positive behavior interventions and supports;
• Positive youth development; and
• Safe, supportive, and positive school climates]]> 2022-03-05 04:14:03 UTC https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d/wish/2078891396 Close to Home. https://www.killeenisd.org/WebData/DocumentViewer/StudentHandbookEnglish.pdf evelynjoseph1 https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d/wish/2078911193 In 2020 my second oldest son lost three friends to suicide and my oldest son had one of his best friends kill himself hours after complaining about how difficult life had become. Neither of my sons knew what to do. Suicide not only impacts the victim but it sends ripples into the lives of everyone who cares about them. Counselors play a vital role in offering help and support for suicidal students, their family members, and friends. The isolation caused by Covid-19 shows how vulnerable our youths are and how many of them are struggling with mental issues that adults in their lives are unaware of. Neither of the four students who committed suicide reached out to their parents, they all reached out to friends. Killeen Independent School District (KISD) has a program that aims to help students build skills to help them manage emotions, establish and maintain positive relationships, and engage in responsible decision-making as outlined in their 2021-2022 student handbook. ]]> 2022-03-05 05:01:32 UTC https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d/wish/2078911193 Information and Referral evelynjoseph1 https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d/wish/2078914123 2022-03-05 05:08:35 UTC https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d/wish/2078914123 Military Family Members evelynjoseph1 https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d/wish/2078914597 2022-03-05 05:09:48 UTC https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d/wish/2078914597 Counsleing and Medical Facilities evelynjoseph1 https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d/wish/2078915700 2022-03-05 05:12:14 UTC https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d/wish/2078915700 evelynjoseph1 https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d/wish/2078915815 2022-03-05 05:12:34 UTC https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d/wish/2078915815 evelynjoseph1 https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d/wish/2078915959 2022-03-05 05:12:59 UTC https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d/wish/2078915959 evelynjoseph1 https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d/wish/2078916138 2022-03-05 05:13:18 UTC https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d/wish/2078916138 Hospitals evelynjoseph1 https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d/wish/2078916873 2022-03-05 05:15:14 UTC https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d/wish/2078916873 Hotlines evelynjoseph1 https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d/wish/2078917177 2022-03-05 05:16:02 UTC https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d/wish/2078917177 Best Practices evelynjoseph1 https://padlet.com/evelynjoseph1/9ix60f296d54ll0d/wish/2079856976 Understanding that suicide is now the second leading cause of death for children between the age of 10-19 should urge counselors to become familiar with how to best help suicidal students. Chances are more likely now than ever, that suicidal students will be a part of the majority of school environments.
1. Understand the duties of a school counselor when dealing with suicidal students. ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselor (2016), A.9 Serious and Foreseeable Harm to Self and Others, clearly states the responsibilities of a school counselor when dealing with a suicidal student.
2. Be prepared as a school counselor to present parents and guardians with a list of the district's approved services during the first conversation informing them that their child's talked of suicide. This would allow parents and guardians to seek immediate help for their child and not worry about how or who to take their child to for help.  ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselor (2016), A.6.a explains that being prepared to present a list of resources to give to parents is a school counselor's duty.
3. School counselors need to understand the laws in their state. They need to know if their state has qualified immunity laws and if it does, what actions by the school counselor could disqualify them for protection under the law.
4. School counselors should know any and all constitutional law, judicial law, statutory law, or administrative law that outlines a school counselor's responsibility when working with a suicidal student.
5. Know the school's protocol in advance of dealing with a suicidal student. Trying to read up on how to respond when you are dealing with a suicidal student is both unprofessional and dangerous.
6. Understand the district's protocols and become familiar with the suicidal assessment your district uses to determine a student's level of risk to commit suicide.
7. Understand the State laws that govern how a school counselor should respond to a suicidal child. Understand what actions or inactions could render you liable when working with a suicidal child in your state.
8. School counselors need to guarantee their actions do not lead to the injury or death of any student. They do not want their actions to be a proximate cause of a student's death. If school counselors follow these best practices suggestions they are more likely to not be in breach of duty when working with a suicidal student.

Reference
ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors (2016). ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors - American School Counselor Association (ASCA)

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