Working With Suicidal Students by Crystal Bethancourt https://padlet.com/cbethancourt/r0v0ac0zobgcpym6 Legal Guide and Best Practices en-us 2021-05-06 19:13:58 UTC 2021-05-08 22:47:51 UTC hello@padlet.com Slide #1: My Professional Perspective cbethancourt https://padlet.com/cbethancourt/r0v0ac0zobgcpym6/wish/1500016510 As a future school counselor, I know that one of my responsibilities will be crisis intervention. Suicide prevention is a serious, crucial component of all school staff training. Albeit, the role of the counselor will be a part of the initial stages of prevention/intervention. Since suicide is the second leading cause of death for ages 10-24, it is critical to know the legal parameters and best pratices when faced with a suicidal student (The Jason Foundation, 2021). This presentation is targeted specifically to those in the school counseling profession, but can be useful for anyone working with youth and adolescents.]]> 2021-05-06 20:07:31 UTC https://padlet.com/cbethancourt/r0v0ac0zobgcpym6/wish/1500016510 Slide #2: Interview cbethancourt https://padlet.com/cbethancourt/r0v0ac0zobgcpym6/wish/1500020659 Iris Guevara, lead counselor at Grantham Academy for Engineering, a middle school in Houston, Texas, stressed the importance of following legal, ethical, and policy standards; especially when dealing with as sensitive of a subject as youth suicide. Guevara stated that school-aged children are constantly dealing with a volatile mixture of a social and emotional balance. Since, developmentally,  their brains are frequently in overdrive, it's important that the adults on campus have a level-headed, calm, demeanor, but also remain under control and proactive. "You cannot be proactive and in control of a crisis situation, such as a suicidal student, if you do not know the policies  and laws required to handle those situations, " emphasized Guevara. 
Best Practices when confronted with a suicidal student are to:
  • Take any report , threat, or concern of a suicide attempt seriously.
  • Meet with the student one-on-one.
  • Ask questions and listen.
  • Refer the student to mental health services if you recognize warning signs.
One of the emerging issues that Ms. Guevara said might be shocking to hear about younger students, but needs to be noticed, is abusive dating relationships. "You would be surprised to know how many 11 and 12 year old girls I have in my office that are in a dark place and contemplating suicide because their boyfriend mentally or physically abuses them. At that point, parents have to be informed and a report must be made, " said the concerned counselor.  Additionally, cyberbullying can contribute to suicidal thoughts or attempts. "Students feel helpless when bullying takes place online because so much of their social life is the perception they create for themselves on social media" (I. Guevara, personal communication, May 3, 2021).

]]> 2021-05-06 20:08:50 UTC https://padlet.com/cbethancourt/r0v0ac0zobgcpym6/wish/1500020659 Slide #3: Professional Association cbethancourt https://padlet.com/cbethancourt/r0v0ac0zobgcpym6/wish/1500026368 The Society for the prevention of Teen Suicide, also known as, SPTS is a TEA approved training program used to raise awareness and give guidance to educators , parents, and teens, on the risks of suicide. This organization was founded by two parents who lost their teenagers to suicide. It is the program used to train the staff in my current district, Aldine ISD, and it provides real world scenarios and role-playing opportunities to teach trainees prevention techniques (SPTSuniversity.org, 2021).]]> 2021-05-06 20:10:36 UTC https://padlet.com/cbethancourt/r0v0ac0zobgcpym6/wish/1500026368 Slide #4: Current News Article cbethancourt https://padlet.com/cbethancourt/r0v0ac0zobgcpym6/wish/1500028780
  • " Among high school students of all demographics, 1 in 5 said they were thinking about suicide and 1 in 10 said they had made a plan to carry it out."
  • "That's despite the "increased attention given to the creation of campaigns to reduce youth suicide in the United States over the last decade, the study found" (American Pyschological Association, 2019).
    • ]]>     2021-05-06 20:11:22 UTC https://padlet.com/cbethancourt/r0v0ac0zobgcpym6/wish/1500028780     Slide #5: Current News Article cbethancourt https://padlet.com/cbethancourt/r0v0ac0zobgcpym6/wish/1500039822
  • According to the APA, there is a correlation to teens' use of social media and reports of depression.
  • Warning signs such as, talking about death or wanting to die, extreme mood swings, or increased drug or alcohol abuse, will often show in suicidal students.
  • It is important for adults to listen to the youth voice their doubts or concerns about life, school, etc. (American Psychological Association,2020).


    • Heffron, C., & Shelton, R. (2020). Conffronting Teen Suicide. Saint Anthony Messenger, 128(1), 30–36.
    ]]>     2021-05-06 20:14:49 UTC https://padlet.com/cbethancourt/r0v0ac0zobgcpym6/wish/1500039822     Slide #6: Original Source of Law Federal/State cbethancourt https://padlet.com/cbethancourt/r0v0ac0zobgcpym6/wish/1500042004 Statutory
    87 (R) H.B. 2954

    • This House Bill relates to suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention programs for Texas elementary schools.
    • The purpose is to promote, fund, and train the schools to reduce suicide risks.
    • Coordinated, with Health and Human Services, to implement a program called Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education (AWARE)
    • Does not authorize a school district employee to recommend perscriptions or make medical decisions for students
    ]]>     2021-05-06 20:15:32 UTC https://padlet.com/cbethancourt/r0v0ac0zobgcpym6/wish/1500042004     Slide #7: Original Source of Law Federal/State cbethancourt https://padlet.com/cbethancourt/r0v0ac0zobgcpym6/wish/1500059027 Statutory
    Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act of 2004, Pub. L. No. 108-355, § 2634

    • A response to youth suicide in the U.S.
    • 74 college campuses participate and receive grants for suicide prevention.
    • Grants awarded to states, tribes, and territories for prevention programs not only in schools, but in juvenile facilities, foster care programs, and mental healtth programs
    • Calls for data collection on effectiveness of efforts, activities, and policy developments


    ]]>     2021-05-06 20:20:54 UTC https://padlet.com/cbethancourt/r0v0ac0zobgcpym6/wish/1500059027     Slide #8: Original Source of Law Federal/State cbethancourt https://padlet.com/cbethancourt/r0v0ac0zobgcpym6/wish/1500060700 Judicial
    Nguyen v MIT, 96 N.E. 3d 128 (2018)

    • Decision made in the Massachusetts Supreme Jucidicial Court
    • Involved a tort claim of negligence in response to a MIT college student who had previously attempted suicide and had seen several on-campus  professionals
    • Put into question the university's duty to prevent suicide
    • The Court decided it was the institution's duty to intervene and protect the students from self-harm. It was determined that a suicide prevention protocol must be enacted by the institution.
    ]]>     2021-05-06 20:21:26 UTC https://padlet.com/cbethancourt/r0v0ac0zobgcpym6/wish/1500060700     Slide #9: Original Source of Law Federal/State cbethancourt https://padlet.com/cbethancourt/r0v0ac0zobgcpym6/wish/1500062315 Statutory
    42 U.S. Code § 290bb-36(a)

    • Although this code was written in response to rising suicide rates among youth in Native tribes, it is applicable to professional school counselors.

    • In order to receive state funding, the suicide prevention program must "provide for the timely assessment, treatment, or referral for mental health or substance abuse services of youth at risk for suicide."

    • The program should use effective techniques to educate and raise awareness.

    • The counselor should be prepared to address students from diverse cultural backgrounds and linguistic abilities.





    ]]>     2021-05-06 20:21:58 UTC https://padlet.com/cbethancourt/r0v0ac0zobgcpym6/wish/1500062315     Slide #10: Local Administrative Law/Policy/Rule cbethancourt https://padlet.com/cbethancourt/r0v0ac0zobgcpym6/wish/1500073714 Texas Education Code (Tex. Edu. Code  § 38)

    • The counselor must build skills relating to managing the emotions of students.
    • The counselor is responsible for creating a positive rapport with students.
    • The counselor must participate in training specializing in suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention.
    • The counselor must recognize the risks and warning signs of student who may attempt suicide.
    ]]>     2021-05-06 20:25:25 UTC https://padlet.com/cbethancourt/r0v0ac0zobgcpym6/wish/1500073714     Slide #11: Ethical Principle cbethancourt https://padlet.com/cbethancourt/r0v0ac0zobgcpym6/wish/1500076186 An ethical dilemma that could occur, in terms of suicide prevention as a school counselor, is that a student could show warning signs of suicide, but request that they do not want their parents to know. Of course, rapport and confidentiality are important, but when a student is at risk of harm, the counselor cannot keep that to themselves. According to the American School Counselor Association  (ASCA),  the school counselor should not only identify the warning signs, but must ethically, notify the parents/guardians of a student that there is potential suicide risk (ASCA, A.6., 2016).

    American School Counselor Association. (2016). Ethical standards for school counselors.


    ]]>     2021-05-06 20:26:04 UTC https://padlet.com/cbethancourt/r0v0ac0zobgcpym6/wish/1500076186     Slide #12: Personal Connection to the Legal and Ethical Standards cbethancourt https://padlet.com/cbethancourt/r0v0ac0zobgcpym6/wish/1500079619 As a classroom teacher, I have been personally affected by the suicide attempt of a student. Although I knew the importance of intervention, I did not know how to follow-through. One of the reasons I chose this topic is because I often think back to that student and wonder how I would need to approach the situation as a school counselor. Not only did I want to know what to do, but how to tackle the issue legally and ethically.
    The  first way to legally comply with suicide prevention is to pay attention to the yearly required trainings enforced by the district. TEA approved trainings provide the laws and guidelines that the district employees must adhere to. Paying close attention to the risks and warning signs will allow me to be proactive in handle this type of crucial intervention.]]>     2021-05-06 20:27:15 UTC https://padlet.com/cbethancourt/r0v0ac0zobgcpym6/wish/1500079619     Slide #13: Bulleted List of Recommendations/ Best Practices for Compliance cbethancourt https://padlet.com/cbethancourt/r0v0ac0zobgcpym6/wish/1505562905
  • Actively engage in trainings from the district regarding suicide prevention.
  • Build trusting relationships with students and frequently observe.
  • Listen to the students, and do not be negligent in taking action when there are risks or warning signs present.
  • Do not diagnose a student.
  • Recognize that a legal responsibility of the counselor is to protect the student from harm, even if it is self-harm.
  • Make a referral to the student and parents, if further evaluation/diagnosis is needed to determine the mental health of the student.
    • ]]>     2021-05-08 22:04:01 UTC https://padlet.com/cbethancourt/r0v0ac0zobgcpym6/wish/1505562905