CULTURALLY EFFECTIVE SUICIDE PREVENTION – FROM THE GROUND LEVEL Greg McDonald, MA E.d President of the Colorado School Counselor Association School Counselor, Broomfield Heights Middle School, Boulder Valley School District

THE ROLE OF SCHOOL COUNSELOR WITH SUICIDE PREVENTION School Counselors are the most prevalent licensed mental health personnel in schools across the state. School counselors are the only mental health professionals that interact with all students and are responsible for the well-being of the full student body. School counselors receive the same advanced education in mental health issues as clinical mental health professionals. Education – of students, parents, staff, community. Prevention – classroom guidance lessons, community education nights, show signs Intervention – Suicide Risk Review, collaboration with colleagues, referral Post-vention – after the fact, District Crisis Response Team.

EDUCATION OF THE STUDENT: Teaching students the signs and symptoms of a person in distress. Teach students how to respond to a friend that talks of suicide or self-harm Teach the students where to go for help and that it is ok to “tell.” Would you rather have your friend alive and mad at you or dead? Teaching students that it is ok to talk about suicide and de-stigmatizing it.

EDUCATION OF THE STAFF Look for’s: Sudden mood changes. Giving personal/favorite items away. Not caring about work or school. Constantly on-edge. What to do: Communication with the School Counselor. How to support the student that returns from a Mental Health Hold or Residential. De-stigmatizing the word, “suicide.” Working with administration on next steps. Training: Mental Health First Aid ASIST

EDUCATION OF PARENTS: Signs and look – for’s. Kids that feel this way are not “crazy,” “weak,” or “mentally impaired.” Many young adults feel this way. Don’t punish the child if they feel sad, overwhelmed or have thoughts of suicide. Don’t create a “prison” for your child. Resources to learn more. Community Information Nights. Mental Health First Aid.

PREVENTION How do we get the information to all students? Classroom guidance lessons. Health Classes for 7 th and 8 th grade. Signs of Suicide Colie’s Closet ( Exit Tickets so know where students are at. Typically receive 5-20 students to follow up with either through a friend or themselves. Engage students where they are at. Allow them to know it is ok to feel sad, down, or depressed. It is what they do with it that raises the concern.

INTERVENTION Suicide Risk Review – revamped in 2014

PARTNERSHIPS Prevention and Intervention efforts are more effective through partnerships with: School Psychologists School Social Workers School Resource Officers Mental Health Agencies Psychiatrists Therapists Mental Health Facilities Children’s Hospital Etc.

POSTVENTION District Crisis Response Team (DCRT)

QUESTIONS??? Greg McDonald, MA E.d

TEEN SUICIDE RATES IN COLORADO FOR THE LAST 5 YEARS According to DataCenter.KidsCount.org