Working With Suicidal Students by Kayla Rivera https://padlet.com/krivera131/sygcy8l9isneoumo Legal guide for working with student who are having thoughts of suicide. Kayla Rivera, M.Ed. Guidance and Counseling en-us 2020-11-16 20:14:52 UTC 2025-11-22 12:33:26 UTC hello@padlet.com Slide #1 Professional Perspective krivera131 https://padlet.com/krivera131/sygcy8l9isneoumo/wish/929129015 As a school counselor, it is important to understand the legal and ethical principles surrounding working with suicidal students. This is a topic with growing concern as many school counselors are experiencing a high volume of students with suicidal thoughts. This legal guide outlines and describes laws that help guide ethical decision making while working with suicidal students. Current events and experiences from counselors will also be examined. ]]> 2020-11-16 20:17:38 UTC https://padlet.com/krivera131/sygcy8l9isneoumo/wish/929129015 Slide #2 Interview Summary krivera131 https://padlet.com/krivera131/sygcy8l9isneoumo/wish/929131870 It is important to understand the legal and ethical principles around working with suicidal students, due to its prevalence. School counselors K. Schroeden and V. Laugier were interviewed to discuss legal and ethical issues stemming from working with suicidal students. K. Schroeden has three years of expereince working as a school counselor and V. Laugier has over 15 years of experience. Both counselors agreed that the amount of suicidal cases they receive is about 1 per week (personal communication, November 19, 2020; personal communication, November 20, 2020).

The interview with both K. Schroeden and V. Laugier contained similar ideas when it comes to best practices (K. Schroeden, personal communication, November 19, 2020; V. Laugier, personal communication, November 20, 2020). 
  • Both counselor emphasized the importance of making a parent contact to  inform them that their child has been having suicidal thoughts. In moderate to severe cases parents are asked to come and pick up their child. 
  • Another best practice that both counselors agreed on is to not leave the student alone. A student that comes to the counselor with suicidal thoughts should be kept under adult supervision. 
  • After the parents are notified, and in moderate to severe cases, picked up, parents are given several mental health resources in the area.

COVID-19 has swept the nation causes very serious effects. Both counselor interviewed agree that since COVID has hit and students have been under an increased amount of stress, the amount of suicidal students has increases. V. Laugier mentioned how she has recently been overloaded with students who are having thoughts of suicide (personal communication, November 20, 2020).

(V. Laugier, personal communication, November 20, 2020) 
(K. Schroeden, personal communication, November 19, 2020)
]]> 2020-11-16 20:18:22 UTC https://padlet.com/krivera131/sygcy8l9isneoumo/wish/929131870 Slide #3 Professional Association krivera131 https://padlet.com/krivera131/sygcy8l9isneoumo/wish/929133918 Although reporting suspected suicidal ideation is just as important as reporting child abuse to authorities, suidcial ideation is not commonly reported to parents (Stone, 2018). The current article discusses the importance of reporting any indication of suicide among students to their parents or guardians.. This includes, peer reporting, rumors, or hearsay. The reporting of suicidal ideation should be a ministerial duty, just like reporting suspected child abuse. Stone (2018) indicates that it is important to not downplay the situation to parents, have resources available, and refer the student to a mental health specialist. It is important to not rely to heavily on Suicide Assessment Scales, as these are often misleading and inaccurate. Instead, these scales can be used to convince parents of the situation's urgency, when needed. Overall, this article focuses on the importance of reporting suicidal ideation. 

Reference
Stone, C. (2018). Suicide and child abuse reporting. American School Counselor Association. https://www.schoolcounselor.org/magazine/blogs/july-august-2018/suicide-and-child-abuse-reporting
]]> 2020-11-16 20:18:54 UTC https://padlet.com/krivera131/sygcy8l9isneoumo/wish/929133918 Slide #4 Current Event 1 krivera131 https://padlet.com/krivera131/sygcy8l9isneoumo/wish/929137360 -With the current pandemic affected our nations schools,  educators are concerned about more students committing suicide (Prothero, 2020). Several, districts have reported students death by suicide because of isolation. Although the isolation and student suicide has not been formally linked by research, it is still a growing concern.

-The article gives several explanations as to why students are committing suicide during this pandemic. Prothero (2020) suggest,  since students are not in school, teachers and other adults students normal interact with are not able to catch the warning signs they normally would. Also, many students are experiencing increased stress due to family financial instability, increased isolation from peers, and death of family and friends. 

- The article continues to suggest adaptions in educator training and increases access to tools for identifying warning signs are needed to help students through the pandemic (Prothero, 2020).

Prothero, A. (2020, June 19). ‘A punch to the gut’: Dealing with suicide in a pandemic. Education Week. https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2020/06/19/a-punch-to-the-gut-dealing-with.html ]]> 2020-11-16 20:19:48 UTC https://padlet.com/krivera131/sygcy8l9isneoumo/wish/929137360 Slide #5 Current event 2 krivera131 https://padlet.com/krivera131/sygcy8l9isneoumo/wish/929138434 - The current article examines and discusses the results from a survey that concluded 1 in every 7 students have considered committing suicide in the past year. The results also showed that students who are receiving special education services and students who do not identify as male or female, have considered suicide more frequently than other students. Females were also more likely to report thoughts of suicide than males. 

- The impact that educators has on students considering suicide is also discussed. The article finds that educators are key in identifying students who are considering suicide and getting them the help they need. Teachers are often seen as an adult that students can talk to. 

Prothero, A. (2020, December 16). 1 in 7 students report having seriously considered suicide, survey finds. Education Week. https://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/rulesforengagement/2019/12/students_report_having_seriously_considered_suicide_survey_finds.html?r=580127633 ]]> 2020-11-16 20:20:05 UTC https://padlet.com/krivera131/sygcy8l9isneoumo/wish/929138434 Slide #6 Source of Law 1 krivera131 https://padlet.com/krivera131/sygcy8l9isneoumo/wish/929140959 Tex. Educ. Code § 33.006

This statutory state law outlines the requirements school counselors should follow when creating a comprehensive counseling program. When creating and implementing a counseling program, school counselors must be aware of the students who are at risk for committing suicide (Tex. Educ. Code § 33.006). ]]> 2020-11-16 20:20:44 UTC https://padlet.com/krivera131/sygcy8l9isneoumo/wish/929140959 Slide #7 Source of Law 2 krivera131 https://padlet.com/krivera131/sygcy8l9isneoumo/wish/929142595 Tex. Educ. Code § 38.351

This statutory state law sets standards for the prevention and interventions strategies that school. This section also requires all staff that are consistently in contact with student, to complete an approved training over teen suicide. It also outlines the required protocol schools should have in identifying the warning signs of suicide in student and reporting it in a timely manner (Tex. Educ. Code § 38.351). ]]> 2020-11-16 20:21:10 UTC https://padlet.com/krivera131/sygcy8l9isneoumo/wish/929142595 Slide #9 Source of Law 4 krivera131 https://padlet.com/krivera131/sygcy8l9isneoumo/wish/929143756 Rogers v. Christina School District (2013) is a judicial law where the school failed to notify the guardians of the student, and later that day he committed suicide. The court found that the school was negligent since they failed to report the students previous attempt of suicide. School protocol was not followed.

Rogers v. Christina School District, 73 A. 3d 1 (Del. 2013). https://www.leagle.com/decision/indeco20130717064
]]> 2020-11-16 20:21:28 UTC https://padlet.com/krivera131/sygcy8l9isneoumo/wish/929143756 Slide #8 Source of Law 3 krivera131 https://padlet.com/krivera131/sygcy8l9isneoumo/wish/929146508
  • This law works in accordance with the previous law mentioned.
  •  This law states that districts need to implement policies that include annual updates regarding suicide prevention. 
  • School Districts must include a plan to notify parents.
    • Tex. Ed Code §11.252 (a)(3)(B)
    ]]>     2020-11-16 20:22:10 UTC https://padlet.com/krivera131/sygcy8l9isneoumo/wish/929146508     Slide #10 Taylor High School Policy krivera131 https://padlet.com/krivera131/sygcy8l9isneoumo/wish/929150961 School counselors who gain knowledge of a student who is experiencing suicidal thoughts are required to contact parent and give resources to mental health services. If parents do not seek help for their student, the school counselor must call CPS.

    Taylor ISD. (2016). Taylor ISD emergency parent notification of suicidal thoughts.

    ]]>     2020-11-16 20:23:19 UTC https://padlet.com/krivera131/sygcy8l9isneoumo/wish/929150961     Slide #11 Ethical Principles krivera131 https://padlet.com/krivera131/sygcy8l9isneoumo/wish/929152732 The ethical standard, A.2.E emphasizes the importance of keeping information between the student and counselor confidential, unless keeping confidentiality will cause foreseeable harm to the student. Given our current topic of working with suicidal students, foreseeable harm is expected; therefore, confidentiality should be broken. When a student comes to the counselor saying they are having suicidal thoughts, parents must be notified. Depending on the severity, those involved in the education of the student may also be notified to help observe the student.

    American School Counselor Association. (2016). ASCA ethical standards for school counselors. https://www.schoolcounselor.org/asca/media/asca/Ethics/EthicalStandards2016.pdf ]]>     2020-11-16 20:23:49 UTC https://padlet.com/krivera131/sygcy8l9isneoumo/wish/929152732     Slide #12 Personal Connection krivera131 https://padlet.com/krivera131/sygcy8l9isneoumo/wish/929153811 Although I have not personally experienced thoughts of suicide in high school, I have had several friends who did. Guidelines such as the ones mentioned in this legal guide, have allowed students, such as my peers, to receive the services they needed before they have taken their own life. I feel guidelines such as the ones mentioned are necessary to help guide school counselors and other educational staff. Training required by the state is necessary for identifying and reporting students who are having thoughts of suicide. Without the current guidelines, my educational experience would have been tragic. ]]> 2020-11-16 20:24:06 UTC https://padlet.com/krivera131/sygcy8l9isneoumo/wish/929153811 Slide #13 Best Practice Recommendations krivera131 https://padlet.com/krivera131/sygcy8l9isneoumo/wish/929158396 Based on the provided information, here are some best practice recommendations for school counselors: 
    • Always notify the parents when students indicate they are having thoughts of suicide.
    • Have several resources available for students and parents, where they can easily access mental health care.
    • Although risk assessments can be useful in determining the severity of the suicidal student, it is important not to rely to heavily on them. 
    • After discovering a student's suicidal ideation, do not leave the student alone. The student should remain under adult supervision. 
    • Once knowledge of the suicidal ideation is gained by the school counselor, parents should be notified, even if the student convinces you they are fine. This will allow the parents to remain vigilant. 
    • Follow district procedure when it comes to reporting students with suicidal thoughts. Many court cases look to see whether or not district policy was followed.
    ]]>     2020-11-16 20:25:19 UTC https://padlet.com/krivera131/sygcy8l9isneoumo/wish/929158396