multiple lessons from multiple suicides sandy austin, counselor green mountain high school jeffco...

Multiple Lessons from Multiple Suicides

Sandy Austin, CounselorGreen Mountain High School

Jeffco Public Schools, Colorado

American School Counselor AssociationNational Conference – Denver, CO

June 26, 2007

Background 2001-02 School Year

9-11 Tragedy – Columbine re-visited School Crisis Plan Revised November

2nd Suicides

November 7 – Sophomore male November 12 – Freshman male December 3 – Junior male July 18 – Junior male about to be a Senior

Unforeseen Challenges Upperclassmen left school w/out

checking out – didn’t know how or where they were

9th & 10th graders – came to Counseling Center

Some “took advantage” of the situation to ditch class

Administrators – hesitant to discipline

Immediate Response

Principal notified District notified – responders notified Crisis Team notified Staff notified Memo to classes Community notified Media issues

Support Offered For Students – in Counseling Center

“Safe Room” Individual counseling w/ Counselor Peer Counselors

For Staff Counselor in class of deceased student Substitute teachers for teachers

impacted EAP Representative

Our Biggest Challenges

Changing School Culture Tattling vs. saving a life Classroom presentations/”Tips for

Tough Times” cards Confidential Tip Box

Suicide Becoming an Option Addressing students’ coping skills

Lessons Learned In implementing our Crisis Response

Plan, this is what else we learned: Take student off attendance system Get a picture of the student Clean out locker and give items to

parents Memo to classes to be read

immediately Determining impacted staff/faculty

Lessons Learned Counselor following student’s schedule

Contact previous families after subsequent suicides

Teachers must be willing to adapt curriculum

Recruit retired administrators and counselors to help

Lessons Learned Have substitute teachers on hand

Activities for the classes the student attended

Collect student’s work & give to parents Address the empty desk

Move to the side of the room – don’t make it disappear, don’t shrine it

Collection box on student’s desk

Lessons Learned Viewings/services – coverage Service recommendations to family

End of school day Mentally prepare students Encourage parents to attend with

students No open mike Ask permission to check notes in

coffin

Lessons Learned

Memorials No memorial service at school Don’t recommend planting a tree,

t-shirts, plaques, tables, “Wall of Death” -- to avoid the glorification of suicide

Instead, something off school campus?

Lessons Learned

Impact on Counselors Impact on Peer Counselors List of kids to watch Counseling staff debriefing Secretarial staff debriefing

Lessons Learned

Differences between summer and school year suicides

Communication w/ students & staff Counseling staff unavailable Mental Health agency on-call Support groups

Staff Students Parents/community members

Programs Implemented

“Confidential Tip Box” Classroom presentations “Tips For Tough Times”

Cards Posters for the community Support Groups

Programs Implemented

Re-entry protocol Handouts/brochures for students

on mental health, etc. issues In-services for staff on suicide Extra Counselor/Interventionist ASIST Training for staff members

Programs Implemented

Green Mountain Area Partnership revision of purpose

Green Mountain articulation area mental health workers meetings

“Truth About Drinking Video” Parent Workshops

Programs Implemented

Community Meetings Community Effort – Second Wind

Fund Challenge Day “Every 15 Minutes” alcohol

program B.I.O.N.I.C. (Believe It Or Not I

Care) Team

Questions?For more details on this information, check

outSandy’s book, Crisis Manual for Christian

Schools and Youth Workers detailinginformation for public and private schools in

crisis planning.

Sandy Austin’s Contact Information:Green Mountain High School

13175 W. Green Mountain Dr.Lakewood, CO 80228

303-982-9402saustin@jeffco.k12.co.us