Legal & Ethical Guide Padlet by https://padlet.com/amajors6/e4823ffzpu5lpw9h en-us 2021-07-13 18:13:53 UTC 2021-07-19 03:22:15 UTC hello@padlet.com Slide #13 - Bulleted List of Recommendations/Best Practices for Compliance amajors6 https://padlet.com/amajors6/e4823ffzpu5lpw9h/wish/1648083994
  • Take any speculation of suicide as a priority and never assume anything different. It is better to have monitored the situation than wish you did when that student is gone (Morgan McWilliams, personal communication, July 15, 2021).
  • No student should be denied the help they need (US Const. amend. XIV.) Remember, this is the law.
  • Teach or guide students as a whole instead of individually because you could possibly reach more students.
  • Counselors and teachers need to work together in order to serve every student that could be dealing with suicidal risks (ACA, 2014).
  • Make a student feel supported in a classroom. They should not feel as if a classroom is an unsafe environment (19 TAC § 149.1001).
  • Above all else, never let them doubt that they are not alone. Let them know you are there for them and that there are resources that can help (Graham ISD, 2021).
    • References:
    ACA. (2014). ACA code of ethics. https://www.counseling.org/resources/aca-code-of-ethics.pdf

    Graham ISD. (2021). Graham ISD 2020-2021 student handbook.
    https://s3.amazonaws.com/scschoolfiles/1197/2020-21_gisd_student_handbook_fc_81320.pdf

    Learning Environment, 19. Tex. Admin. Code §149.1001

    U.S. Const. amend. XIV
    ]]>     2021-07-13 20:15:41 UTC https://padlet.com/amajors6/e4823ffzpu5lpw9h/wish/1648083994     Slide #12 - Personal Connection to the Legal and Ethical Standards amajors6 https://padlet.com/amajors6/e4823ffzpu5lpw9h/wish/1648084128 With every law, comes a responsibility. These laws are important to how we approach students with suicidal intent and how to prepare every member in a school for if a student needs us. Students need to know they have a support system, resources, and that everyone will work together to meet their needs. It really lays a pathway to how I go about my duty as a counselor. 
    I feel hopeful because I know that I will do my best to follow each law to better serve my students. My confidence is increasing due to my increased understanding of the ACA Code of Ethics and their connection with each of the four sources of law. It really does pave a foundational path to how you can approach your colleagues and teach them what is needed to assist students dealing with suicide.]]>     2021-07-13 20:15:55 UTC https://padlet.com/amajors6/e4823ffzpu5lpw9h/wish/1648084128     Slide #11 - Ethical Principle amajors6 https://padlet.com/amajors6/e4823ffzpu5lpw9h/wish/1648084472 Code D.1.b. of the American Counseling Association Code of Ethics states that counselors will work together with their colleagues so students are best served (ACA, 2014). Teachers and counselors need to be on the same page in order to ensure suicidal students are being identified and get the help they need.

    ACA. (2014). ACA code of ethics. https://www.counseling.org/resources/aca-code-of-ethics.pdf]]>     2021-07-13 20:16:02 UTC https://padlet.com/amajors6/e4823ffzpu5lpw9h/wish/1648084472     Slide #10 - Local Administrative Law/Policy/Rule amajors6 https://padlet.com/amajors6/e4823ffzpu5lpw9h/wish/1648084646 Student Handbook
    It is stated in the Graham ISD Student Handbook that if a student or parent is experiencing mental health problems they can contact their campus nurse (Graham ISD, 2021). It also supplies students and parents with contact information to a mental health authority on page 49 (Graham ISD, 2021).

    Graham ISD. (2021). Graham ISD 2020-2021 student handbook.
    https://s3.amazonaws.com/scschoolfiles/1197/2020-21_gisd_student_handbook_fc_81320.pdf

    ]]>     2021-07-13 20:16:12 UTC https://padlet.com/amajors6/e4823ffzpu5lpw9h/wish/1648084646     Slide #9 - Statutory Law amajors6 https://padlet.com/amajors6/e4823ffzpu5lpw9h/wish/1648084705 Federal Law
    Section 7118 of the United States Code requires activities that supply teacher trainings that are directed toward suicide prevention (20 U.S.C. § 7118 et. seq.). High quality trainings allow educators to identify risk signs of suicide and then get the student the help he or she needs to prevent suicide. 

    20 U.S.C. § 7118 et. seq.
    https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title20-section7118&num=0&edition=prelim]]>     2021-07-13 20:16:18 UTC https://padlet.com/amajors6/e4823ffzpu5lpw9h/wish/1648084705     Slide #8 - Administrative Law amajors6 https://padlet.com/amajors6/e4823ffzpu5lpw9h/wish/1648084776 State Law
    Standard 4 of the Texas Administrative Code, states that educators are to create a learning environment that is "physically and emotionally safe, supportive learning environment" (19 TAC § 149.1001). This means that teachers are responsible for keeping a student safe and need to report any mental health or suicidal signs. 

    Learning Environment, 19. Tex. Admin. Code §149.1001

    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=149&rl=1001]]>     2021-07-13 20:16:24 UTC https://padlet.com/amajors6/e4823ffzpu5lpw9h/wish/1648084776     Slide #7 - Judicial Law amajors6 https://padlet.com/amajors6/e4823ffzpu5lpw9h/wish/1648084931 State Law
    This case addresses the proper duty of schools when a student commits suicide. (Nguyen vs. MIT, 2018). A college student committed suicide after many college professionals declared he had no imminent suicidal thoughts or intents. Nguyen rejected multiple offers of help from the MIT mental health services due to the stigma connected. The University did not carry out intervention because Nguyen did not display signs of suicide. If Nguyen were to show imminent intents, then MIT could then supply intervention. The court found that MIT did not "voluntarily assume duty of care", but the attempts they did make, did not increase his risk of suicide (Ismail & Steinberg, 2019). We have a duty to care for our students especially when we know they are acting abnormal.

    Nguyen vs. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, (2019).

    https://law.justia.com/cases/massachusetts/supreme-court/2018/sjc-12329.html

    References:
    Ismail, A., & Steinber, A. (2019). Negligence on the part of a university or college. http://jaapl.org/content/47/2/257

    ]]>     2021-07-13 20:16:29 UTC https://padlet.com/amajors6/e4823ffzpu5lpw9h/wish/1648084931     Slide #6 - Constitutional Law amajors6 https://padlet.com/amajors6/e4823ffzpu5lpw9h/wish/1648084990 Federal Law
    • The 14th amendment of the US Constitution states that no person can be denied the equal protection of the laws.
    • This means that no student with a mental health issue shall be denied the help they need.
    U.S. Const. amend. XIV.

    https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/amendment-14/

    State Law 
    • Law states that regular trainings for counselors, teachers, administrators and other staff on suicidal warning signs and risks.
    • trainings that teach staff to intervene so proper care like mental health services are provided to students.
    Tex. Const. art. 161, § 325b

    https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/StatutesByDate.aspx?code=HS&level=SE&value=161.325&date=5/8/2015
    ]]>     2021-07-13 20:16:34 UTC https://padlet.com/amajors6/e4823ffzpu5lpw9h/wish/1648084990     Slide #5 - Current News Article amajors6 https://padlet.com/amajors6/e4823ffzpu5lpw9h/wish/1648085055 This article discusses the suicidal effects of remote learning this past year. Marraccini (2021) discussed that during COVID-19, many suicidal risks were elevated so she urges schools to train educators to be aware of warning signs. 
    Marraccini, M. E., (2021). What we know about suicide during the pandemic (and what we don't). EducationWeek. https://www.edweek.org/leadership/opinion-what-we-know-about-suicide-during-the-pandemic-and-what-we-dont/2021/03]]>     2021-07-13 20:16:39 UTC https://padlet.com/amajors6/e4823ffzpu5lpw9h/wish/1648085055     Slide #4 - Current News Article amajors6 https://padlet.com/amajors6/e4823ffzpu5lpw9h/wish/1648085109 The University of Utah accepted a &150 Million donation from the Huntsman Corporation. This generous donation will be put toward the mental health research, care and education. 

    Anderson, G. (2019). $150 million donation for utah mental health. Inside Higher Ed. https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2019/11/05/150-million-donation-utah-mental-health

    ]]>     2021-07-13 20:16:43 UTC https://padlet.com/amajors6/e4823ffzpu5lpw9h/wish/1648085109     Slide #3 - Professional Association amajors6 https://padlet.com/amajors6/e4823ffzpu5lpw9h/wish/1648085148 In this webinar you will learn from Kristin Souers, a licensed mental health counselor, and Pete Hall, a veteran school administrator, about the "Three R's" that will help assist with students needs. This mainly focuses on the importance of trauma-invested practices in the school setting. 

    Soers, K., & Hall, P. (2019). The new three r's: Trauma-invested strategies for fostering resilient learners. ASCD. 
    http://www.ascd.org/professional-development/webinars/the-new-three-rs-webinar.aspx]]>     2021-07-13 20:16:48 UTC https://padlet.com/amajors6/e4823ffzpu5lpw9h/wish/1648085148     Slide #2 - Interview amajors6 https://padlet.com/amajors6/e4823ffzpu5lpw9h/wish/1648085212 I interviewed Morgan McWilliams. She is one of the three, high school counselors at Big Spring ISD. She has been a counselor for 2 years now. A crisis she has dealt with at Big Spring is students that are suicidal. They handle suicidal cases very serious at Big Spring high school and do what ever needs to be done to get them the help they need. The safety of every student is a main focus in a counselor's job, so suicidal prevention week is something that the counselors partake in. McWilliams also stated that they are doing more and more to assist teachers in identifying student's mental health issues
    (Morgan McWilliams, personal communication, July 15, 2021).
    Some best practices include:
    •  Once a student is identified as suicidal, they become a priority. 
    • Students are talked with so as much information is gathered so the counselors can identify if a student is trying to hurt themselves or someone else. 
    • A students information is kept confidential unless information comes about that will put anyone in harm.
    (Morgan McWilliams, personal communication, July 15, 2021)

    Between the 2018-2019 year, suicide rate decreased in the U.S. To help keep this rate declining, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention created Preventing Suicide: A Technical Package of Policy, Programs and Practices (Stone et al., 2021). This system targets the risk factors linked to suicide and works to prevent suicide. With COVID-19, this approach has hopes to keep the decline from 2019 complacent (Stone et al., 2021).

    References:
    Stone, D. M., Jones, C. M., & Mack, K. A. (2021). Changes in suicide rate - United states, 2018-2019. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/v olumes/70/wr/mm7008a1.htm

    ]]>     2021-07-13 20:16:52 UTC https://padlet.com/amajors6/e4823ffzpu5lpw9h/wish/1648085212     Slide #1 - Professional Perspective amajors6 https://padlet.com/amajors6/e4823ffzpu5lpw9h/wish/1648085249 I am a counselor at Graham High School. My topic is working with high school students that are suicidal or that have ever thought of suicide. My target audience are high school teachers. I chose this certain topic because it is something that many high school students deal with and with COVID-19 occurring, students need more help than ever. With this training, I hope to enlighten teachers on what we can do to help those struggling with suicide.]]> 2021-07-13 20:16:56 UTC https://padlet.com/amajors6/e4823ffzpu5lpw9h/wish/1648085249