Legal Guide: Working with Suicidal Students by https://padlet.com/ksalardino/eo6hrpcuk9tp2rve Legal & Ethical Principles en-us 2021-07-11 18:38:16 UTC 2026-03-17 02:04:54 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/1f4c4.png Perspective, audience, and topic ksalardino https://padlet.com/ksalardino/eo6hrpcuk9tp2rve/wish/1659530213 Perspective: The perspective of this Legal Guide is from that of a school counselor.
Audience: The audience are teachers and other school personnel.
Topic: The topic is working with suicidal students.
Purpose: This topic was chosen because the current district in which the author currently works had not developed a procedure for the first two years of her tenure, and still there has been no trainings for the teachers or staff on how to proceed with the newly enacted policy.]]> 2021-07-23 16:35:21 UTC https://padlet.com/ksalardino/eo6hrpcuk9tp2rve/wish/1659530213 Interview with Silvia Wille ksalardino https://padlet.com/ksalardino/eo6hrpcuk9tp2rve/wish/1659532815 In interviewing Wille, a school counselor at SFDR Middle School and previous school counselor at SFDR's Buena Vista Elementary, it was noted that our district has identified the risk of suicide within our students, however it just now putting procedures and systems in place to prevent and respond to these needs (Wille, personal communication). This Legal Guide is important to the teachers and staff members of SFDR-CISD because they are often the first responders to students who may pose a suicide risk. They must be informed of what the policies and procedures are and be able to appropriately respond to them. Furthermore, they should know what the risk factors look like to be able to identify a students in need immediately. This information will allow all staff members within the district to be on the same page in their response efforts. Some best practices include:
~ becoming a non-judgmental, listening ear
~ never leaving the child alone if they present risk factors
~ knowing the chain of command and action plan.
The Texas Education Agency, or TEA, has stated that there has been a 20 year rising trend in feelings of hopelessness and depression in youth (2020). For this reason, the TEA provides resources for suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention to schools. Although these resources have been available, they had not exactly been  implemented in the SFDR district. There has been much forward progress however, with the adoption of a suicide prevention policy into the district's handbook as well as the importance placed on providing at least two counselors to each school campus to allow for fidelity with classroom guidance lessons.
Wille shared several instances of having to respond to a suicidal student. Having come from out of state, she was very surprised and concerned about the lack of knowledge that school personnel had concerning how to respond to a student in need (Wille, personal communication). She stated that multiple times, a student was sent to her office alone, or a teacher would reach out days after a comment was made. This could have been injurious to a student who may have acted on their threat in the interim. Wille also stated that she was a big proponent of changing district's policies and procedures concerning suicide and she is very happy to see that the district has adopted a suicide addendum in the handbook (Wille, personal communication). She stated that one of her roles pertaining to this new change was providing training to the staff about risk factors and action plans (Wille, personal communication.
Silvia Wille is one of the middle school counselors at Del Rio Middle School.
References
Texas Education Agency, (2020). Suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention. TEA. https://tea.texas.gov/about-tea/other-services/mental-health/suicide-prevention-intervention-and-postvention]]> 2021-07-23 16:39:14 UTC https://padlet.com/ksalardino/eo6hrpcuk9tp2rve/wish/1659532815 ASCA's Model School District Policy on Suicide Prevention ksalardino https://padlet.com/ksalardino/eo6hrpcuk9tp2rve/wish/1659614618 This brochure by the American School Counselor Association, or ASCA, is provided as a sample of what a suicide prevention policy should look like in a school district. The policy provides prevention, intervention, and postvention procedures for schools. It also discusses special populations such as LGBTQ and other considerations such as suicide contagion and re-entry. This policy can be helpful to school districts who wish to implement a district-wide suicide prevention policy, or update their existing policy with relevant vocabulary.
References
American School Counselor Association, (n.d.). Model school district policy on suicide prevention: model language, commentary, and resources. ASCA. https://www.schoolcounselor.org/getmedia/9b28c170-607a-428f-9dae-619850fa531b/Model-School-District-Policy-Suicide-Prevention.pdf]]> 2021-07-23 19:14:15 UTC https://padlet.com/ksalardino/eo6hrpcuk9tp2rve/wish/1659614618 Suicide Prevention and Evidence-Based Practice ksalardino https://padlet.com/ksalardino/eo6hrpcuk9tp2rve/wish/1659640864
  • A study was conducted to identify intervention strategies that have been used on high school and college campuses.
  • The study showed that most research has been conducted in the United States and other countries with high-income averages.
  • Research did not include suicide rates, but focused on staff interventions, suicide stigma, and non-fatal suicidal behavior.
  • This study concluded that future research should include more research in low and middle income populations and countries, and focus on vulnerable students such as those in the LGBTQ community amongst other things.
    • References
    Elsie Breet, Matsie Matooane, Mark Tomlinson, & Jason Bantjes. (2021). Systematic review and narrative synthesis of suicide prevention in high-schools and universities: a research agenda for evidence-based practice. BMC Public Health, 21(1), 1–21. https://doi-org.easydb.angelo.edu/10.1186/s12889-021-11124-w
    ]]>     2021-07-23 20:11:06 UTC https://padlet.com/ksalardino/eo6hrpcuk9tp2rve/wish/1659640864     Student Suicide: Legal and Ethical Implications ksalardino https://padlet.com/ksalardino/eo6hrpcuk9tp2rve/wish/1660106131
  • Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in 14-19 year olds.
  • Four types of suicide prevention programs are suggested. They are: 1. universal curricular suicide education, 2. in-service education for gatekeepers, 3. school-wide suicide screening programs, and 4. enacting protective factors.
  • The article also suggest 5 steps for enacting a suicide prevention program. They are: 1. collect data, 2. determine content, 3. delivering content to constituent audiences, 4. methods of intervention, and 5. program evaluation.
    • Granello, P.F. & Zymroski, B. (2019). Developing a comprehensive suicide prevention program. ASCA. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/2156759X18808128
    ]]>     2021-07-25 00:47:56 UTC https://padlet.com/ksalardino/eo6hrpcuk9tp2rve/wish/1660106131     Texas Education Code ksalardino https://padlet.com/ksalardino/eo6hrpcuk9tp2rve/wish/1660579913
  • State Law
  • Each school district shall provide suicide training for its staff members.
    • References
    21 TEC, § 21.451 (d)
    Tex. Admin. Code § 153.1013
    ]]>     2021-07-26 02:05:43 UTC https://padlet.com/ksalardino/eo6hrpcuk9tp2rve/wish/1660579913     Texas Education Code ksalardino https://padlet.com/ksalardino/eo6hrpcuk9tp2rve/wish/1660580318
  • The Texas Education Code requires school districts to create an annual district improvement plan. This plan must address school safety, which oftentimes addresses circumstances regarding suicide.
    • References
    11 TEC, § 11.251

    ]]>     2021-07-26 02:06:04 UTC https://padlet.com/ksalardino/eo6hrpcuk9tp2rve/wish/1660580318     SFDR-CISD Handbook ksalardino https://padlet.com/ksalardino/eo6hrpcuk9tp2rve/wish/1660580583
  • SFDR-CISD's District Improvement Plan incudes professional development for all district employees on school safety, address the prevention and response to school safety issues, and notify parents of school safety procedures.
    • References
    San Felipe Del Rio CISD, (2020a).  District Improvement Plan 2020/2021. SFDRCISD. https://www.sfdr-        cisd.org/media/14359/2020-2021-sfdrcisd-dip-cna.pdf
    ]]>     2021-07-26 02:06:18 UTC https://padlet.com/ksalardino/eo6hrpcuk9tp2rve/wish/1660580583     SFDR-CISD Handbook ksalardino https://padlet.com/ksalardino/eo6hrpcuk9tp2rve/wish/1660581039
  • SFDR's Employee Handbook provides a Suicide Prevention Policy and guidelines for district employees to follow. This policy also helps to bolster other district policies concerning a student's mental health and wellbeing. 
    • References
    San Felipe Del Rio CISD, (2020b). Employee Handbook 2020-2021. SFDRCISD. https://www.sfdr-        cisd.org/media/14355/employee-handbook-2020-2021.pdf
    ]]>     2021-07-26 02:06:38 UTC https://padlet.com/ksalardino/eo6hrpcuk9tp2rve/wish/1660581039     FWISD Suicide Prevention Guidelines ksalardino https://padlet.com/ksalardino/eo6hrpcuk9tp2rve/wish/1660607548
  • Outlines basic facts about suicide
  • Lists signs of suicidal behavior/thinking
  • Describes what to do if a person identifies a suicidal student
    • References
    FWISD (n.d.) It's not okay: Suicidal behavior. FWISD. https://www.fwisd.org/Page/2163
    ]]>     2021-07-26 02:32:11 UTC https://padlet.com/ksalardino/eo6hrpcuk9tp2rve/wish/1660607548     ASCA Code of Ethics ksalardino https://padlet.com/ksalardino/eo6hrpcuk9tp2rve/wish/1660614230 Standard A.9 describes what a school counselor should do if they identify a student who poses a threat to their own safety. These steps include informing parents, the authorities if needed, and constantly supervising a student until they are released to another adult.
    References
    American School Counselor Association (2016). ASCA ethical standards for school counselors. ASCA. https://www.schoolcounselor.org/getmedia/f041cbd0-7004-47a5-ba01-3a5d657c6743/Ethical-Standards.pdf]]>     2021-07-26 02:38:37 UTC https://padlet.com/ksalardino/eo6hrpcuk9tp2rve/wish/1660614230     Personal Connection ksalardino https://padlet.com/ksalardino/eo6hrpcuk9tp2rve/wish/1660626806 Understanding the law as it pertains to suicide has helped me to feel more prepared for my future role as a school counselor. Having worked in a very small border town for the duration of my Texas tenure,  there was not a school policy regarding suicide prevention until recently. My research in this course and others has equipped me to understand not only what the law is, but to be ready to explain it to faculty and staff. My ultimate goal is to become the best school counselor that I can be. I feel a vital aspect of my role is bridging the gap between students, parents, and staff members. It has been refreshing to see that the law has a similar goal in providing a framework for policies to be put in place in the best interest of the student.]]> 2021-07-26 02:50:49 UTC https://padlet.com/ksalardino/eo6hrpcuk9tp2rve/wish/1660626806 Recommendations & Best Practices ksalardino https://padlet.com/ksalardino/eo6hrpcuk9tp2rve/wish/1660641100
  • Know the law; if you don't know- ask
  • Participate in yearly suicide prevention training
  • Act quickly
  • Must inform parents/authorities
  • Never leave the child alone
  • Listen non-judgmentally
  • Texas School Counselors should read the Texas Model for guidelines on creating a comprehensive school counseling program
    • ]]>     2021-07-26 03:05:21 UTC https://padlet.com/ksalardino/eo6hrpcuk9tp2rve/wish/1660641100