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