Suicide Prevention & Educator Responsibilities by Samuel Dobbs

Suicide Prevention & Educator Responsibilities by Samuel Dobbs https://padlet.com/sdobbs12/bnajw8shgznde8uj en-us 2022-07-19 16:26:43 UTC 2026-02-21 17:05:30 UTC hello@padlet.com Slide #1: My Professional Perspective sdobbs12 https://padlet.com/sdobbs12/bnajw8shgznde8uj/wish/2246303543 The professional perspective utilized for this legal guide will be as a high school counselor at Weatherford Independent School District (WISD). The audience for this legal guide is for school counselors, teachers, and administrators. I chose this topic as a consequence to the rise of mental health issues that have plagued our students since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.]]> 2022-07-19 16:35:36 UTC https://padlet.com/sdobbs12/bnajw8shgznde8uj/wish/2246303543 Slide #2: Interview sdobbs12 https://padlet.com/sdobbs12/bnajw8shgznde8uj/wish/2246335441 When trying to determine who to interview, I decided on interviewing an educator that is in the field and works directly with at-risk students. I wanted the perspective of a teacher, rather than a school counselor. My interview was with Mr. Josh Mullins, who is a special education teacher at Weatherford High School.
Link to bio: https://ngc-hs.weatherfordisd.com/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1820611&type=u&pREC_ID=2219156

Suicide prevention and educator responsibilities are increasingly becoming a critical issue in the field of education. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health issues were already a rising issue in education, but over the past two years, we have seen an increase with the students dealing with anxiety and depression issues. Chronic absenteeism has increased among the students that Mr. Mullins works directly with, along with school counselor referrals (J. Mullins, personal communication, July 2, 2022). Additionally, you can sense the frustration and concern displayed by parents for their children (J. Mullins, personal communication, July 2, 2022).

Best practices:

An open dialogue needs to be present between the educator and their students. There is still a mental health stigma that lingers and can prevent open communication with your students (J. Mullins, personal communication, July 2, 2022).
Establish a relationship with your school counselor and do not be afraid to approach them with questions that you may have. There is "no stupid question when dealing with student mental health issues" (J. Mullins, personal communication, July 2, 2022).
There needs to be more training and awareness in schools regarding the rising mental health issues among the students we directly work with (J. Mullins, personal communication, July 2, 2022).

Emerging Issue:
An emerging issue that educators need to be on the look out for is the economy's impact on student mental health. Students feed off their parents demeanor, and many parents are currently stressed to the max with continued supply chain issues, the War in Ukraine, and inflation (J. Mullins, personal communication, July 2, 2022). As if the COVID-19 pandemic was not enough, we may be coming closer to more economic troubles in the future. These troubles could cause job losses and poverty, which has a direct correlation with an individual's mental health (J. Mullins, personal communication, July 2, 2022).

]]> 2022-07-19 17:50:54 UTC https://padlet.com/sdobbs12/bnajw8shgznde8uj/wish/2246335441 Slide #3: Professional Association sdobbs12 https://padlet.com/sdobbs12/bnajw8shgznde8uj/wish/2246336905 In this article provided by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), University of North Florida professor and ASCA ethics chairwoman Carolyn Stone provides an informative analysis on the importance of school counselors exercising caution and their legal responsibilities when serving students at risk of suicide.
Article link: https://www.schoolcounselor.org/Magazines/September-October-2013/Suicide-Err-on-the-Side-of-Caution

The article provides court case examples when school counselors' legal responsibilities were challenged in the federal and state court systems. Stone (2013) expands legal responsibilities into ethical responsibilities by stating "ethical obligation to a suicidal student may extend beyond parental notification if the parents do not seek help for their child. School counselors must make every attempt to supply parents or guardians with counseling referrals until placement is secured" (para. 12).

Reference:

Stone, C. (2013, September 1). Suicide: Err on the side of caution. American School Counselor Association. https://www.schoolcounselor.org/Magazines/September-October-2013/Suicide-Err-on-the-Side-of-Caution

]]> 2022-07-19 17:54:34 UTC https://padlet.com/sdobbs12/bnajw8shgznde8uj/wish/2246336905 Slide #4: News Article sdobbs12 https://padlet.com/sdobbs12/bnajw8shgznde8uj/wish/2246338571 Riser-Kositsky (2022) analysis data released by the National Center for Education Statistics regarding the number of school psychologists and counselors in the United States. Here is what the author's analysis found:

12% (5.4 million) of students attend districts with no school psychologists, while 1% (500,000) of students have no school counselor.
14% of districts meet the recommended student-to-counselor ratio of 250 students to 1 counselor.
Districts where the majority of students are non-white are less likely to have access to school counselors than districts with a majority of white students.
Only 1.96% of districts in Texas are meeting the student-to-counselor ratio (Riser-Kositsky, 2022).

Article link: https://www.edweek.org/leadership/data-does-your-state-have-enough-school-psychologists-and-counselors/2022/03

Reference:
Riser-Kositsky, M. (2022, March 28). Data: Does your state have enough school psychologists and counselors? Education Week. https://www.edweek.org/leadership/data-does-your-state-have-enough-school-psychologists-and-counselors/2022/03

]]> 2022-07-19 17:58:45 UTC https://padlet.com/sdobbs12/bnajw8shgznde8uj/wish/2246338571 Slide #5: News Article sdobbs12 https://padlet.com/sdobbs12/bnajw8shgznde8uj/wish/2246338996 Vestal (2022) discusses how mental health among teens has worsen and how schools have learned how to help these students. The article explains what has caused the rise of teen mental health issues and how the issue is being combated, such as:

A group of child psychiatrists, children's hospitals, and pediatricians declared a state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic's effect on children's mental health.
In 2021, a survey conducted by the C.S. Mott Children's Hospital at the University of Michigan found that more than a quarter of American parents reported that their teen has sought mental health treatment, with 59% have done so within the past year.
New state laws that target upgrading mental health resources at schools, preventative plans to prevent teen suicides, and promote child mental health.
The CDC reports that children between the ages of 10 to 14 have suicide as the second leading cause of death.
Compared to 2019, emergency room visits for suicide attempts in 2020 among girls between the ages of 12 to 17 have risen 51%.
Schools need a safe and open dialogue about suicide and mental illness.
Youth mental health first aid has seen an increase in training educators, which equip them with the tools needed to intervene when suicide concerns arise.
Training is not enough; schools need a comprehensive approach that includes partnering with the community (Vestal, 2022).

Article link: https://www.edweek.org/leadership/as-teen-mental-health-worsens-schools-learn-how-to-help/2022/04

Reference:
Vestal, C. (2022, April 21). As teen mental health worsens, schools learn how to help. Education Week. https://www.edweek.org/leadership/as-teen-mental-health-worsens-schools-learn-how-to-help/2022/04

]]> 2022-07-19 17:59:06 UTC https://padlet.com/sdobbs12/bnajw8shgznde8uj/wish/2246338996 Slide #6: Source of Law sdobbs12 https://padlet.com/sdobbs12/bnajw8shgznde8uj/wish/2246340520 Federal Constitutional Law:
The Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution:

The beginning stages and cornerstone of the journey for educational equity in the United States.
Although this law does not explicitly mention education, it does prohibit the states from creating laws that deny individuals an equal protection under the law or lessens the privileges or immunities of being an American citizen (U.S. Const. amend. XIV).

Link to law: https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-14/

Reference:
U.S. Const. amend. XIV

]]> 2022-07-19 18:03:43 UTC https://padlet.com/sdobbs12/bnajw8shgznde8uj/wish/2246340520 Slide #7: Source of Law sdobbs12 https://padlet.com/sdobbs12/bnajw8shgznde8uj/wish/2246341399 State Administrative Law:
The Texas Administrative Code requires:

School districts to adopt policies for reporting child abuse and neglect.
The policies must require every school personnel to report any suspicions of abuse or neglect that has adversely affected the child's welfare, physical health, or mental health within 48 hours.
Reports are to be made to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, law enforcement, or a local Child Protective Services office (19 TAC § 89.1).

Link to law: 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=19&pt=2&ch=61&rl=1051

Reference:
Reporting Child Abuse or Neglect, Including Trafficking of a Child, 19. Tex. Admin. Code § 61.1051

]]> 2022-07-19 18:06:04 UTC https://padlet.com/sdobbs12/bnajw8shgznde8uj/wish/2246341399 Slide #8: Source of Law sdobbs12 https://padlet.com/sdobbs12/bnajw8shgznde8uj/wish/2246341543 Federal Judicial Law:
The Supreme Court of the United States ruling in H.L. v. Matheson (1981) provided the constitutional definition of parental authority that is:

Parental authority over their children is the basic structure of our society.
Three reasons provided are:
- Minors are vulnerable when it comes to making life-altering choices.
- Minors are unable to make competent and informed decisions when they are emotionally stressed.
- The relationship between the parent and child are unique; therefore, the responsibility of developing the child's skills and values belongs to the parents (H.L. v. Matheson, 1981).

With this judicial law in mind, school counselors have the responsibility to breach confidentiality standards when faced with suicidal outcries by the student, serious and foreseeable harm, or imminent danger (Stone, 2013).
Link to the court case: https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/ll/usrep/usrep450/usrep450398/usrep450398.pdf

Reference:
H. L. v. Matheson, 450 U.S. 398 (1981).

Stone, C. (2013, July 13). Serious and foreseeable harm or clear, imminent danger. American School Counselor Association. https://www.schoolcounselor.org/Magazines/July-August-2011/Serious-and-Foreseeable-Harm-or-Clear,-Imminent-Da?sso=f7cf54e9-e01b-4c98-ae3a-8dee921dc41b

]]> 2022-07-19 18:06:27 UTC https://padlet.com/sdobbs12/bnajw8shgznde8uj/wish/2246341543 Slide #9: Source of Law sdobbs12 https://padlet.com/sdobbs12/bnajw8shgznde8uj/wish/2246341776 State Statutory Law:
The Texas Education Code outlines the primary responsibilities of school counselors. Some of the responsibilities related to mental health are the following:

Counsel students to fully develop their personal and social abilities.
Plan, implement, and evaluate their comprehensive developmental guidance program that addresses their students' special needs such as:
- School drop-out
- Substance abuse
- Gang activity
- Suicide risk (Tex. Educ. Code § 33.006)

Link to law: https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.33.htm#:~:text=33.006

Reference:
Tex. Educ. Code § 33.006.

]]> 2022-07-19 18:07:03 UTC https://padlet.com/sdobbs12/bnajw8shgznde8uj/wish/2246341776 Slide #10: Local Policy sdobbs12 https://padlet.com/sdobbs12/bnajw8shgznde8uj/wish/2246341932 Weatherford Independent School District's (WISD) Board Policy Manual provides policies and procedures in relation to student welfare and crisis intervention. The Superintendent is required to "ensure that a multidisciplinary threat assessment and safe and supportive team is established to serve each campus" (Weatherford ISD Board Policy Manual, 2019, para. 1). Additionally, the team implements intervention and monitoring strategies to determine if a student poses a threat to themself or others (Weatherford ISD Board Policy Manual, 2019).

Link to law: https://pol.tasb.org/Policy/Download/984?filename=FFB(LOCAL).html&title=STUDENT%20WELFARE&subtitle=CRISIS%20INTERVENTION

Reference:
Weatherford Independent School District. (2019, October 28). Weatherford ISD board policy manual. https://pol.tasb.org/Policy/Download/984?filename=FFB(LOCAL).html&title=STUDENT%20WELFARE&subtitle=CRISIS%20INTERVENTION

]]> 2022-07-19 18:07:29 UTC https://padlet.com/sdobbs12/bnajw8shgznde8uj/wish/2246341932 Slide #11: Ethical Principle sdobbs12 https://padlet.com/sdobbs12/bnajw8shgznde8uj/wish/2246342258 Under the Responsibilities to Parents/Guardians section of the ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors (2016), standard B.1.j. states that school counselors provide accurate information to parents and to communicate any concerns that affects their child's safety and well-being in a timely manner. When the risk of suicide to a student in your care presents itself, it is the duty of the school counselor to address these concerns to the parent in a timely manner.

Link to the code of ethics: https://www.schoolcounselor.org/getmedia/44f30280-ffe8-4b41-9ad8-f15909c3d164/EthicalStandards.pdf

Reference:
American School Counselor Association. (2016). ASCA ethical standards for school counselors. https://www.schoolcounselor.org/getmedia/44f30280-ffe8-4b41-9ad8-f15909c3d164/EthicalStandards.pdf]]> 2022-07-19 18:07:58 UTC https://padlet.com/sdobbs12/bnajw8shgznde8uj/wish/2246342258 Slide #12: Personal Connection sdobbs12 https://padlet.com/sdobbs12/bnajw8shgznde8uj/wish/2246342819 As a future school counselor, a personal connection to the legal and ethical standards is the understanding of confidentiality limitations with my students when it comes to potential self-harm or imminent danger. Another personal connection I learned was how careful I need to be when around my students, especially as a male around my female students to avoid any unnecessary misconceptions. Additionally, my personal connection when applying the law to case studies, I was given a more tangible understanding of how the law applies to my personal educational journey.

These personal connections provided me with a clear understanding of how the law applies to my future role and the importance of understanding the law, and how the law protects me and my students. I was alarmed at how situations can severely escalate when reviewing some of the court cases that demonstrates negligence by school personnel when informing parents about potential suicide concerns for their child. The legal and ethical standards paved a way for my educational goals by providing an outline of the expectations for my future role as a school counselor, and the roles and responsibilities of being a school counselor.]]> 2022-07-19 18:09:26 UTC https://padlet.com/sdobbs12/bnajw8shgznde8uj/wish/2246342819 Slide #13: Recommendations sdobbs12 https://padlet.com/sdobbs12/bnajw8shgznde8uj/wish/2246343474 The following information are recommendations for suicide prevention best educational practices and legal compliance for all educators:

Breaching confidentiality is a big deal, but the death of one of your students supersedes confidentiality. "Err on the side of caution" when the risk of suicide present itself for one of your students (Stone, 2013, para. 13).
School counselors should not be the only school personnel advocating for additional mental health resources for their students. Riser-Kositsky (2022) states that only 1.96% of Texas districts have enough counselors to meet the recommended student-to-counselor ratio. Administrators and teachers also need to sound the alarm by petitioning their school board members, state and federal representatives, and their community for the urgent need of increasing mental health resources on their campus.
Equip yourself with youth mental health best practices by completing youth mental health first aid training. This training gives educators tools they need for intervention when suicide concerns are presented to you (Vestal, 2022).
If suicide concerns of a student are reported to their parent and the parent refuses or neglects to seek help for their child in a timely manner, a report to Child Protective Services would be an appropriate action to take (Stone, 2013).
As educators, we have the opportunity to make a significant difference in the lives of our students. Find out what your school's crisis intervention plans are and what you can do to assist them. You may have the opportunity to serve on this team.
One of the most overlooked suicide intervention focuses is parental education strategies. These strategies include sending newsletters home, facilitating parent workshops, and meetings parents at home (Granello & Zyromski, 2018). There must be a more coordinated effort to engage parents with their children's mental health.

References:
Granello, P. F., Zyromski, B. (2018). Developing school suicide prevention program. Professional School Counseling, 22(1), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F2156759X18808128

Riser-Kositsky, M. (2022, March 28). Data: Does your state have enough school psychologists and counselors? Education Week. https://www.edweek.org/leadership/data-does-your-state-have-enough-school-psychologists-and-counselors/2022/03

Stone, C. (2013, September 1). Suicide: Err on the side of caution. American School Counselor Association. https://www.schoolcounselor.org/Magazines/September-October-2013/Suicide-Err-on-the-Side-of-Caution

Vestal, C. (2022, April 21). As teen mental health worsens, schools learn how to help. Education Week. https://www.edweek.org/leadership/as-teen-mental-health-worsens-schools-learn-how-to-help/2022/04

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