Working with Suicidal Students by Megan Kellner https://padlet.com/mkellner4/oblxpj0xn28w en-us 2019-07-13 21:04:24 UTC 2019-07-20 01:59:33 UTC hello@padlet.com Slide #1 Professional Perspective mkellner4 https://padlet.com/mkellner4/oblxpj0xn28w/wish/371055204 My professional perspective is working as a K-8 school counselor. I received my Master's in guidance and counseling. I was formerly a 4th grade teacher. This Legal Guide Padlet is a resource guide for school counselors to help them in understanding the current legal requirements related to working with suicidal students. I chose this topic because suicide is on the rise and it is important for school counselors to know their role. ]]> 2019-07-13 21:09:13 UTC https://padlet.com/mkellner4/oblxpj0xn28w/wish/371055204 Slide #2 Interview https://padlet.com/mkellner4/oblxpj0xn28w/wish/371205452 I interviewed Rexanne Tucker, she is a school counselor in the Remington district for Kindergarten through eighth grade students.

Why is working with suicidal students is important:
Students are really struggling in this area and social media and cyberbullying are playing a huge role. Students' lives are put out there for everyone to see and with that they hold themselves to standards that are not suitable or appropriate for their age. With these stresses students are cutting and having more suicidal thoughts. It’s important to understand the need to help students seek outside resources. Cutting is hard because a lot of students do it as a coping skill, so helping them find other ways to manage thoughts and feelings is crucial. It is important to always error in the side of caution and work with the student on getting their parents involved and informed.
Best practices:
>Inform parents, help bridge to outside sources and support.
>Safety plan with students for school and home. Have plan in place and keep people aware and informed.
>Follow up and continue support in school. Don’t just get outside help and stop meeting with student. Keep line of communication open for student and with parents.
 Emerging Issue
Due to the rise in suicides in schools, an emphasis has been placed on mental health in schools. Legislative sessions are discussing adding suicide prevention to professional developments for educators to be trained on what their role is. School safety and suicide prevention strategies will be implemented within schools.

(R. Tucker, personal communication, July 12, 2019)
]]> 2019-07-15 16:54:49 UTC https://padlet.com/mkellner4/oblxpj0xn28w/wish/371205452 Slide #3 Professional Association https://padlet.com/mkellner4/oblxpj0xn28w/wish/371205466 This association is extremely informative for school counselors. It provides assistance to those who are struggling with suicidal ideations. It also gives information on risk factors, warning signs, how to get involved, and links to other professionals.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/]]> 2019-07-15 16:55:02 UTC https://padlet.com/mkellner4/oblxpj0xn28w/wish/371205466 Slide #4 Current News Article https://padlet.com/mkellner4/oblxpj0xn28w/wish/371206556 This article addresses what schools can do to prevent suicides and what they can do after a suicide occurs. To aid in preventing suicide, schools can discuss bullying, create a warm and friendly environment, and educate on depression and suicide. In the event that suicide occurs, it is important to make sure there are outlets for staff and students to grieve and get counseling. One suicide can create a ripple effect, if the school is not vigilant (Stark, 2018).

Stark, L. (2018). Suicides are on the rise. Here's how schools can help. Education Week. Retrieved from https://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/rulesforengagement/2018/12/suicides_continue_to_increase_how_schools_can_help.html]]> 2019-07-15 17:08:18 UTC https://padlet.com/mkellner4/oblxpj0xn28w/wish/371206556 Slide #5 Current News Article https://padlet.com/mkellner4/oblxpj0xn28w/wish/371206584 Principals who realize that suicide is on the rise are taking steps to preventing it within their schools. They suggest that a three-tier system is important to implement within schools. This would start with a screening process for all students and place them in the correct category to get the appropriate help. Tier one provides basic mental health services to all students. Tier two provides small group counseling for students who need more targeted help. Lastly, tier three is for students with a chronic or mental illness. These students would more than likely need outside help (Prothera, 2018).

Prothera, A. (2018) Why principals need to make student mental health a priority. Education Week. Retrieved from https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2018/10/17/why-principals-need-to-make-student-mental.html]]> 2019-07-15 17:08:39 UTC https://padlet.com/mkellner4/oblxpj0xn28w/wish/371206584 Slide #6 Tex. Educ. Code § 33.006 (a)(b)- Statutory Law mkellner4 https://padlet.com/mkellner4/oblxpj0xn28w/wish/371355448 Counselors should plan, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive guidance program to serve all students and those who are at risk of dropping out of school, becoming substance abusers, participating in gang activity, or committing suicide.

School Counselors; General Duties, Tex. Educ. Code § 33.006 (a)(b)

Link: https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.33.htm]]> 2019-07-16 20:49:20 UTC https://padlet.com/mkellner4/oblxpj0xn28w/wish/371355448 Slide #7 Tex. Educ. Code § 38.057 (a)(b)- Statutory Law mkellner4 https://padlet.com/mkellner4/oblxpj0xn28w/wish/371355646 Staff and person whose consent is obtained can jointly identify health-related concerns that are interfering with a student’s well-being or academics. If the student needs a mental health referral, the staff member should notify the person whose consent is required in writing and verbally. The referral cannot proceed if consent is not obtained.

Identification of Health Related Concerns, Tex. Educ. Code § 38.057 (a)(b)

Link: https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/SOTWDocs/ED/htm/ED.38.htm]]> 2019-07-16 20:52:46 UTC https://padlet.com/mkellner4/oblxpj0xn28w/wish/371355646 Slide #8 Tex. Admin. Code §351.13- Administrative Law mkellner4 https://padlet.com/mkellner4/oblxpj0xn28w/wish/371355812 Faculty members should have a suicide prevention plan that addresses definitions of suicidal behavior, screening methodology that assesses the student’s risk of suicide, communication among staff, level of supervision, policy and procedure for intervening, reporting, training on the suicide prevention plan, housing, and mortality reviews.

Health Care Services, Tex. Admin. Code §351.13

Link: 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]]> 2019-07-16 20:54:53 UTC https://padlet.com/mkellner4/oblxpj0xn28w/wish/371355812 Slide #9 Eisel v. Board of Education, 324 Md. 376 (1991)- Judicial Law mkellner4 https://padlet.com/mkellner4/oblxpj0xn28w/wish/371355918 School counselors have a duty to intervene to prevent a student from committing suicide.

Eisel v. Board of Education, 324 Md. 376 (1991)

Link: https://1-next-westlaw-com.easydb.angelo.edu/Document/Ibda4541134f711d986b0aa9c82c164c0/View/FullText.html?transitionType=SearchItem&contextData=(sc.Search)]]> 2019-07-16 20:56:24 UTC https://padlet.com/mkellner4/oblxpj0xn28w/wish/371355918 Slide #10 Local Administrative Policy mkellner4 https://padlet.com/mkellner4/oblxpj0xn28w/wish/371356007 Kerrville ISD follows Health and Safety Code 161.325 when developing practices and procedures concerning suicide.  This includes providing notice of a recommendation
for early mental health, providing notice to a parent or guardian, developing a reporting mechanism, and setting out available counseling alternatives for a parent or
guardian to consider (Kerrville ISD, 2017).

Kerrville ISD. (2017). Student welfare crisis intervention. Retrieved from https://pol.tasb.org/Policy/Download/768?filename=FFB(LEGAL).pdf]]> 2019-07-16 20:57:49 UTC https://padlet.com/mkellner4/oblxpj0xn28w/wish/371356007 Slide #11 Ethical Principle mkellner4 https://padlet.com/mkellner4/oblxpj0xn28w/wish/371356674 School counselors are not to release a student who is a danger to themselves or others until the student has had the proper support. If parents will
not provide support that is needed, the school counselor needs to express the urgency to seek help and may report to child protective services, if necessary (American School Counselor Association, 2016).

American School Counselor Association. (2016). ASCA ethical standards for school counselors. Retrieved from https://www.schoolcounselor.org/asca/media/asca/Ethics/EthicalStandards2016.pdf]]> 2019-07-16 21:07:54 UTC https://padlet.com/mkellner4/oblxpj0xn28w/wish/371356674 Slide #12 Non-Law Source mkellner4 https://padlet.com/mkellner4/oblxpj0xn28w/wish/371357493 The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention raises awareness about suicide, funds research, and educates those who have been affected by suicide. They encourage schools, workplaces, and communities to make mental health a priority by providing a multitude of programs.

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. (2019). Retrieved from https://afsp.org/our-work/education/]]> 2019-07-16 21:22:31 UTC https://padlet.com/mkellner4/oblxpj0xn28w/wish/371357493 Slide #13 Best Practices mkellner4 https://padlet.com/mkellner4/oblxpj0xn28w/wish/371511667
  • It is important for school counselors to implement a complete comprehensive guidance program that helps develop students’ academic, career, personal, and social abilities. This plan will specifically discuss the special needs of students who are at risk of committing suicide (Tex. Educ. Code § 33.006 (a)(b)).
  • If a counselor needs to refer a student for mental health services, the counselor must obtain consent from the person required (Tex. Educ. Code § 38.057 (a)(b)).
  • It is important for schools to have a prevention plan for how to handle suicide when the situation arises. This information needs to cover a plethora of information so that everyone is informed and knows what their role is in the event that it happens (Tex. Admin. Code §351.13).
  • School personnel should not release a student who is a threat to themselves or others. A parent or guardian should be notified immediately of the danger and recommended next steps for the child’s mental health (American School Counselor Association, 2016).
  • It is the role of the school counselor to intervene if they feel a student is at harm to themselves or others (Eisel v. Board of Education, 324 Md. 376 (1991)).
  • Due to the rise in suicide rates, schools are going to have to place a larger emphasis on mental health. It is recommended that schools put students through a screening, which identifies how at risk that student is for mental health (Prothera, 2018).
  • A ripple effect can occur after a suicide happens, so it is important for schools to provide the opportunity to grieve and get counseling (Stark, 2018).

    • American School Counselor Association. (2016). ASCA ethical standards for school counselors. Retrieved from https://www.schoolcounselor.org/asca/media/asca/Ethics/EthicalStandards2016.pdf

    Eisel v. Board of Education, 324 Md. 376 (1991)

    Health Care Services, Tex. Admin. Code §351.13

    Identification of Health Related Concerns, Tex. Educ. Code § 38.057 (a)(b)

    Prothera, A. (2018) Why principals need to make student mental health a priority. Education Week. Retrieved from https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2018/10/17/why-principals-need-to-make-student-mental.html

    School Counselors; General Duties, Tex. Educ. Code § 33.006 (a)(b)
    Stark, L. (2018). Suicides are on the rise. Here's how schools can help. Education Week. Retrieved from https://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/rulesforengagement/2018/12/suicides_continue_to_increase_how_schools_can_help.html

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