https://padlet.com/laurien_smith/op3r5tqd6yq1yc9s A resource guide for counselors when working with suicidal students en-us 2021-11-17 20:22:23 UTC 2021-12-01 22:39:10 UTC hello@padlet.com laurien_smith https://padlet.com/laurien_smith/op3r5tqd6yq1yc9s/wish/1897925025 As a future school guidance counselor, I chose to create this legal resource guide to be used as a tool when working with students exhibiting suicidal tendencies.  I chose this topic because as a current high school teacher, and a future secondary counselor, I know that this is an issue I will unfortunately encounter when working with students.  I also chose to research this topic because this is the part of becoming a counselor that intimidates me the most.  It's obviously incredibly important to be able to intervene early and correctly in order to help these students.  I hope that by learning as much as I can and by creating this resource bundle I will help ease my fears as I move into this career and be confident in my ability to best serve my students.  The audience for this legal guide is guidance counselors.  This list of legal resources will be very useful for myself and other counselors as they navigate this serious topic with students.  ]]> 2021-11-17 20:27:22 UTC https://padlet.com/laurien_smith/op3r5tqd6yq1yc9s/wish/1897925025 laurien_smith https://padlet.com/laurien_smith/op3r5tqd6yq1yc9s/wish/1918585642 For this interview I interviewed Patty Reich, a school counselor at Vista Ridge High School.  Ms. Reich (personal communication, November 14, 2021), walked me through the step by step process that she enacts every time she gets any information indicating that one of her students has suicidal tendencies.  She explained to me that dealing with suicidal students was the most intimidating part of the job for her at the beginning as well (P. Reich, personal communication, November 14, 2021).  However, having a structure, a script, and very specific protocol has helped to ease that fear and help her ensure that she is providing all services possible to her students. 

Ms. Reich shared with me the three best practices she follows for dealing with suicidal students. (P. Reich, personal communication, November 14, 2021). 
1.  Follow the protocol from start to finish. 
     *Call them in immediately
     *Explain the confidentiality agreement and limitations   
     *Complete the Suicide Risk Assessment (SRA)
     *Inform the parents
     *Alert the mobile outreach system
2.  Complete an SRA every single time there is any information involving a student's suicidal tendencies.
 3.  Have an open and frank conversation.  Ask them straight forwardly if they are suicidal.  Do not tip-toe around the question.

During the interview Ms. Reich indicated that there is an emerging issue causing an increase in suicidal outcries among students.  She said they have seen a doubling of the students they counsel related to Covid-19 and the return to in person learning.  Students are experiencing increased anxiety and depression returning from their virtual learning last year.  She said many students have developed social anxiety as well as health related anxiety as a result of the pandemic (P. Reich, personal communication, November 14, 2021). 


]]> 2021-11-29 17:53:22 UTC https://padlet.com/laurien_smith/op3r5tqd6yq1yc9s/wish/1918585642 laurien_smith https://padlet.com/laurien_smith/op3r5tqd6yq1yc9s/wish/1921514502 The American School Counselor Association (ASCA), is a great resource for counselors who are working with suicidal students.  The ASCA lays out very clear roles that the counselor must perform as they encounter suicidal students (ASCA, 2016).  Along with maintaining their own education in best practices, the counselor is also responsible for training staff on how to recognize the signs and how to report (ASCA, 2016).   The ASCA (2016) states that a counselor's duty is to identify the signs of suicide risk among students and ensure that proper preventative protocol is followed.  The counselor also has an ethical responsibility to inform parents if their child has been identified as at risk. 

Reference:
American School Counselor Association.  (2016).  The school counselor and suicide prevention/awareness.  Retrieved from https://www.schoolcounselor.org/asca/media/asca/Ethics/EthicalStandards]]> 2021-11-30 22:28:30 UTC https://padlet.com/laurien_smith/op3r5tqd6yq1yc9s/wish/1921514502 laurien_smith https://padlet.com/laurien_smith/op3r5tqd6yq1yc9s/wish/1921535424 According to Mcintosh et al. (2020), the Covid-19 pandemic was not only devastating physically but has also escalated the already growing mental health crisis in the United States.  The factors that are largely contributing to this uptick in mental health issues are as follows:
-the impact social distancing had on depression and anxiety
-students' lack of access to school counselors or other mental health resources due to virtual schooling
-due to the newness of the pandemic, counselors and mental health workers are having to recreate protocols and resource guides to assist students and families. 

Reference:
Pruitt, L. D., Mcintosh, L. S., & Reger, G. (2020).  Suicide Safety Planning During a Pandemic:  The Implications of Covid-19 on Coping with a Crisis.  Suicide & Life-Threatening Behavior, 50(3), 741-749.  https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/sltb.12641]]> 2021-11-30 22:49:21 UTC https://padlet.com/laurien_smith/op3r5tqd6yq1yc9s/wish/1921535424 laurien_smith https://padlet.com/laurien_smith/op3r5tqd6yq1yc9s/wish/1921547271
According to Vigilar and Trotter (2021), research is beginning to show the negative impact the virtual learning environment had on the mental health of adolescents.  The data was retrieved through a mixed methods approach conducted on military bases and indicated the following:
-an increase in students reporting eating disorders
-an increase in students needing outpatient psychiatric care
-an increase in students being admitted for inpatient psychiatric care

Reference: 
Clare Vigilar, M.V., & Trotter, J. (2021).  37.5 The Impact of Covid-19 Virtual Schooling on Child and Adolescent Mental Health:  Considerations for Force Readiness.  Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 60(10).  https://doi.org./10.1016/j.jaac.2021.09.293


]]> 2021-11-30 23:02:31 UTC https://padlet.com/laurien_smith/op3r5tqd6yq1yc9s/wish/1921547271 laurien_smith https://padlet.com/laurien_smith/op3r5tqd6yq1yc9s/wish/1921556950 According to state statutes, public schools are required to annually update their list of best practices in working with suicidal students  (Tex. Health and Safety Code §161.325).
 The list must include the following:
-early mental health intervention
-mental health education and development
-intervention in substance abuse cases
-suicide prevention programs
 

]]> 2021-11-30 23:12:44 UTC https://padlet.com/laurien_smith/op3r5tqd6yq1yc9s/wish/1921556950 laurien_smith https://padlet.com/laurien_smith/op3r5tqd6yq1yc9s/wish/1921569943 The Youth mental Health and Suicide Prevention Act of 2021 (20 U.S.C. 7801) allows for the creation of grants to be awarded to eligible entities in an effort to enhance the mental health services provided to high school students.  Grants awarded under this act may be used in the following ways:
-evaluating the schools' existing programs and prevention strategies
-educational seminars
-campaigns to increase awareness of mental health services
-program support for peer to peer support programs
-social media applications to help with screening
-telehealth services
-training programs for students, families, and staff
-creating a structure to connect schools to resources

Citation:

U.S. Const. H.R. 1803


]]> 2021-11-30 23:26:29 UTC https://padlet.com/laurien_smith/op3r5tqd6yq1yc9s/wish/1921569943 laurien_smith https://padlet.com/laurien_smith/op3r5tqd6yq1yc9s/wish/1923777846 In a recent Massachusetts trial court decision, Tang v. Harvard College et al, 2019, the court attempted to clarify and expand upon the obligations educational entities have in preventing student suicides.  As a result of this decision the state supreme court established a new ''reasonable measures'' standard in which schools have a duty to try to prevent student suicides.

As a result of this clarified standard, the schools in this state have a duty to implement the following steps in each case:
-Review policies
-Implement authorization policies allowing for communication between administrators, parents, and counselors
-Review and update suicide prevention protocols.
-Review health and wellness information and make available to students
-Educate the entire community about signs and best practices

Citation:
Tang v. Harvard College et al.  (2019). ]]> 2021-12-01 20:51:45 UTC https://padlet.com/laurien_smith/op3r5tqd6yq1yc9s/wish/1923777846 laurien_smith https://padlet.com/laurien_smith/op3r5tqd6yq1yc9s/wish/1923793411 The Texas Administrative Code (19 TAC §153.1013) discusses a school's obligation in providing suicide prevention training.  The regulation mandates that all districts must provide regular suicide prevention training to all district employees.  The school district is also required to maintain records about the employees who have or have not completed trainings. 

Citation
Suicide Prevention Training, 19.  Tex. Admin. Code §153.1013]]> 2021-12-01 21:03:17 UTC https://padlet.com/laurien_smith/op3r5tqd6yq1yc9s/wish/1923793411 laurien_smith https://padlet.com/laurien_smith/op3r5tqd6yq1yc9s/wish/1923809914 Leander Independent School District takes a multi-pronged approach to preventing suicide among students.  One such policy is the anonymous alerts system.  All staff, students, parents, and community members receive information and training on how to utilize the system.  The system is there for anyone who wants to report concern of potential suicide risk within the student population.  Counselors then use this information to begin the comprehensive suicide risk analysis process and work through the district protocol with the student and their family. 

Reference:
Leander Independent School District. (2021).  Anonymous Alerts. Leanderisd.org.  https://anonymousalerts.com/leanderisd/

]]> 2021-12-01 21:17:15 UTC https://padlet.com/laurien_smith/op3r5tqd6yq1yc9s/wish/1923809914 laurien_smith https://padlet.com/laurien_smith/op3r5tqd6yq1yc9s/wish/1923815100 The ASCA (2020) outlines the counselor's ethical obligations in analyzing the suicide risk of their students.  Counselors have an ethical obligation to respond to any information suggesting that a student may be at risk for attempting suicide.  Once becoming aware, counselors are ethically and legally required to report the suspected risk to the students' parents and the local authorities. 

Reference:

American School Counselor Association.  (2020).  The school counselor and suicide risk assessment.  Retrieved from https://schoolcounselor.org/Standards-Positions/Position-Statements/ASCA-Position-Statements/The-School-Counselor-and-Suicide-Risk-Assessment]]> 2021-12-01 21:21:46 UTC https://padlet.com/laurien_smith/op3r5tqd6yq1yc9s/wish/1923815100 laurien_smith https://padlet.com/laurien_smith/op3r5tqd6yq1yc9s/wish/1923827405 As a future school counselor I know that I will be working with students at risk for suicide. 
Compiling this list of legal and ethical resources has been very beneficial in the following ways:
-Understanding the legal obligations for school counselors dealing with suicidal students helps to clarify exactly what steps one must complete for each reported student
-Understanding the ethical obligations for school counselors dealing with suicidal students helps to clarify the counselors' role in informing families and working with the appropriate authorities
-In reviewing the local standards for my own school district, it is very reassuring to see that we have a very structured and specific protocol to follow once students have been identified.

In reviewing the laws in place at various levels I learned the following about my legal obligations as a future counselor:
-Schools are required to continuously review and update suicide prevention resources and protocol.
-Schools are required to continuously provide training for staff about the newest information, resources, and protocol.
-Schools are required to run a suicide risk assessment on all students who have been identified as having suicidal tendencies.   

Reference:

American School Counselor Association.  (2020).  The school counselor and suicide risk assessment.  Retrieved from https://schoolcounselor.org/Standards-Positions/Position-Statements/ASCA-Position-Statements/The-School-Counselor-and-Suicide-Risk-Assessment

Leander Independent School District.  (2021).  Employee Handbook.  Leanderisd.org.  https://handbook.leanderisd.org

]]> 2021-12-01 21:32:31 UTC https://padlet.com/laurien_smith/op3r5tqd6yq1yc9s/wish/1923827405 laurien_smith https://padlet.com/laurien_smith/op3r5tqd6yq1yc9s/wish/1923845616 -Be aware of suicide prevention policies and protocol within your state, district, school.
-Be aware of a counselor's ethical obligation to report students identified as at risk for suicide.
-Respond immediately to all students identified as at risk.
-Follow the district and school protocols for handling identified students.
-Conduct a SRA (suicide risk assessment) for all students who have been mentioned as possible at risk, regardless of their response to initial meeting.
-Contact the appropriate authorities and parents.
-Offer a resource guide for outside support to student and family.
-Follow up after initial report. ]]> 2021-12-01 21:48:02 UTC https://padlet.com/laurien_smith/op3r5tqd6yq1yc9s/wish/1923845616