A Culture of Caring

A Suicide Prevention Guide for Schools (K–12)

Theodora Schiro

As awareness grows about the alarming increase in youth suicide rates, school leaders need information on suicide prevention and postvention. Tragically, the search often begins only after the school community has suffered the loss of a student. Schools must start to be proactive and educate themselves about risk factors and prevention strategies.

Designed as a handbook for busy educators, A Culture of Caring: A Suicide Prevention Guide for Schools (K—12) includes information about prevention, intervention, and postvention along with commentary from experts in the field. Each chapter stands alone and does not have to be read in sequence. Resources and descriptions of programs relevant to each chapter are organized by topic. School leaders, counselors, and teachers can use the information to create their own plans or just glance through it to get ideas. With this book, any school community that takes suicide prevention seriously will have access the knowledge, tools and resources to save lives.

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Pages: 166 • Trim: 6 x 9

978-1-4758-4448-1 • Hardback • February 2020 • $32.00 • (£25.00)

978-1-4758-4450-4 • eBook • February 2020 • $28.50 • (£21.99)

Subjects: Education / Counseling / Crisis Management, Self-Help / Mood Disorders / Depression, Education / Teacher Training & Certification

A Culture of Caring

A Suicide Prevention Guide for Schools (K–12)

Hardback

eBook

Summary

As awareness grows about the alarming increase in youth suicide rates, school leaders need information on suicide prevention and postvention. Tragically, the search often begins only after the school community has suffered the loss of a student. Schools must start to be proactive and educate themselves about risk factors and prevention strategies.

Designed as a handbook for busy educators, A Culture of Caring: A Suicide Prevention Guide for Schools (K—12) includes information about prevention, intervention, and postvention along with commentary from experts in the field. Each chapter stands alone and does not have to be read in sequence. Resources and descriptions of programs relevant to each chapter are organized by topic. School leaders, counselors, and teachers can use the information to create their own plans or just glance through it to get ideas. With this book, any school community that takes suicide prevention seriously will have access the knowledge, tools and resources to save lives.

Details

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Pages: 166 • Trim: 6 x 9

978-1-4758-4448-1 • Hardback • February 2020 • $32.00 • (£25.00)

978-1-4758-4450-4 • eBook • February 2020 • $28.50 • (£21.99)

Subjects: Education / Counseling / Crisis Management, Self-Help / Mood Disorders / Depression, Education / Teacher Training & Certification

Author

Theodora Schiro was a teacher and school administrator for over 36 years, and now works to increase awareness of depression and other mental health disorders by educating school personnel in suicide prevention. She is also a freelance writer for non-profits and businesses that provide educational products and services.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Foreword

Preface: The Story of Joss

Introduction

Chapter 1. A Brief History of Suicide Prevention

The Stigma of Suicide

Emergence of Suicide Prevention

Active Prevention Efforts

The Action Alliance

Progress and Problems

Facts and Figures

Chapter 2. The Current State of Suicide Prevention in Schools

We Can Prevent Suicide

Expert Commentary: Nicole Gibson, Director of State Policy and Grassroots Advocacy, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)

The Current State of Suicide Prevention in Schools

Shortage of Sustainable Funding

Access to Mental Health Care

Capacity

What Does the Most Effective State Statute for Suicide Prevention in Schools Look Like?

Evaluating Suicide Prevention Methods in Schools

Effective Prevention Models

Recommendations for Initiating a Suicide Prevention Program in a School or District

Basic Components of a Suicide Prevention Model for Schools

A Tragic Scenario

Legislating to Prevent Suicide

Where to Find Suicide Prevention Training

Suicide Prevention Training Programs and Resources for Schools

Why Schools Don’t Address Suicide Prevention

Just Do It

Beyond Policies and Procedures

The Future of Suicide Prevention in Schools

Prevention vs. Crisis Intervention

Chapter 3. Changing the Mindset

Expert Commentary: Leo Hart, School Counselor, Valley High School, Sunny Valley, Arizona

Postvention Leads to Prevention

Getting Buy-in from Staff

Getting Buy-in from Students

Getting Buy-in from Parents

School Counselors Help Support Student Mental Health

Advice on Starting a Suicide Prevention Program

Get the Conversation Started

Stop the Stigma

Knowledge is Power

The Mindset at our School is Positive so there is No Need to Change It

How a Culture of Caring Led to Crisis Support

School Website Resources

Firearms and Suicide

Who Are Suicide Prevention Advocates?

We Are All Responsible

Chapter 4. Prevention

Expert Commentary: Jill Cook, Assistant Director, American School Counselor Association

The Critical Need for School-based Mental Health Professionals

Evolution of the School Counselor’s Role

Focus on Prevention

Training for School Personnel

Why Every School Needs a Policy on Suicide Prevention

Overview of the Model District Policy on Suicide Prevention

Advocating for a School District Suicide Prevention Policy

Getting Started

Prevention

Warning Signs

Risk Factors

Protective Factors

Mental Disorders

Youth with Complex Risk Factors

Bullying

Intervention- Assess and Refer

At-risk Student

In-school Suicide Attempts

Out-of-school Suicide Attempts

Parental Notification and Involvement

Re-entry after an Attempt

Postvention- After a Suicide

Action Plan

Communication Plan

Let the Students in on the Plan

Avoid Suicide Contagion or “Copycat Suicides”

State Laws and Their Effect on Risk Factors

Barriers to Suicide Prevention in Schools

Awareness

Time

Money

Stigma

Chapter 5. Intervention

How to Help a Suicidal Student

Expert Commentary: Kelly Vaillancourt Strohbach, Director of Policy and Advocacy, National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)

Schools Need Access to Mental Health Services

The Real Role of a School Psychologist

Viable Options for Schools with Limited Resources

Advocate for Mental Health Professionals

Ongoing Professional Learning

Boston Public Schools Comprehensive Behavioral Health Model

Turn a Vision into Reality

Parents Have the Right to Know

Intervention Plans Based on Risk Assessment Results

No Risk

Low Risk

Moderate Risk

High Risk

Protective Factors

Connectedness

Life Skills and Resilience

Effective Mental Health Care

Peer-based Intervention

Groups at Higher Risk

Creating a Safety Plan

What Not to Do

What to Do

Resistance

Author’s Note: I Wish I Had Known Then What I Know Now

Chapter 6. Postvention

After a Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools

Crisis Response

Crisis Team Action Plan

Communication

Safety

Support for Students and Staff

Community Liaisons

Funeral

Media Relations

Social Media

Help Students and Staff Cope with Grief and Loss

Coping Strategies and Counseling

Include Parents in the Conversation

Work Together with Community Partners

How Memorialization Can Lead to Suicide Contagion

Request Outside Help

Moving Forward

Chapter 7. Engaging the School Community in Suicide Prevention

Expert Commentary: Sandra McNally, Prevention Manager at EMPACT (Emergency Mobile Pediatric and Adolescent Crisis Team) – Suicide Prevention Center (SPC) in Tempe, Arizona

Suicide Prevention in Schools Evolve

Barriers That Get in the Way

How to Face Fear

What an Effective Model for Suicide Prevention Education Looks Like in Schools

Getting Buy-in from Principals, Counselors, and Teachers

How to Initiate a Suicide Prevention Program at Your School or District

Obstacles Preventing Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Plans

How to Get Buy-in for Suicide Prevention Programs

School Connectedness

One Step at a Time

Keep the Momentum Going

Students

Administrators

Teachers

Parents

Community Partners

Copy from Others

Don’t Reinvent the Wheel

Take Pride in Caring

Chapter 8. Success Stories

We Know Suicide is Preventable

Introduction to AFSP

Expert Commentary: John Madigan, Senior Vice President and Chief Public Policy Officer, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)

Actionable Data Collection

Public Safety

Funding for Research

Grassroots Advocacy

Lack of Funds

Healthcare

Urgency

Stories of Success

Successful Interventions

Actionable Data and Research

Advocacy

Education

Language

Conclusion

Chapter 9. What the Future Will Be

Expert Commentary: Doreen Marshall, Vice President of Programs at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)

Suicide Prevention in Schools

It’s Safe to Talk about Mental Health and Suicide

Components of an Effective Suicide Prevention Model for Schools

Help-seeking Behavior is Key

Social-emotional Learning and Mental Health Education

Advances in Suicide Prevention

How to Initiate a Suicide Prevention Program in Your School or District

Hope for the Future

Chapter 10. Resources

Prevention: Guidebooks and Toolkits

School Programs

Crisis Services for Students

Suicide Prevention Organizations and Programs

Relevant Research and Resources

Working with the Media

Intervention: Recommended Resources

Postvention: Recommended Resources

Engaging the School Community: Connectedness

About the Author

Reviews

A practical guide for district and school-based administrators. . . . For those without a plan, this book can act as a roadmap to get started. For those with a plan, it acts as a great resource to fill the gaps or to take the work to the next level. District and school leaders will immediately recognize the value of specific examples and resources available nationwide. [And] Schiro, a former public school administrator, writes from personal experience.

— School Administrator

Spectacular resource for educators working with students who suffer from depression, have suicidal thoughts, and may be in this state of mind, or those who just want to know what signs to look for with students who are dealing with this issue. This is written from the educator’s view and with personal knowledge of the heartache of losing someone they love to suicide. The book provides the tools and resources for educators to give support and assistance to students and their families. If you are an educator, this is a must-read. Teachers often spend more time with students and see them daily; making them “first-responders” for suicidal youth. Please read this book, it WILL change your life and potentially save the life of a student that attends your school.
— Joyce Morgan, MSW, LCSW, LISAC, Social Work Senior Manager, Banner University Medical Center Tucson and South Campus

This book should be in the hands of every educator and in every school. It is imperative that suicide awareness and prevention be a part of everyday measures to ensure the safety of our children and allow for discussions to happen freely and without judgment. Theodora Schiro has created an “A to Z” resource for this to happen. As a community it is time to make mental health education a part of our everyday lives.
— Melinda Vail, Certified Hypnotherapist and Grief Counselor, Empowered Living Center, Tempe, AZ

Having worked under Theo as her School Counselor during the tragic time of the loss of her son to suicide, this handbook is an honest and heartfelt collection of thoughts, ideas, and research gathered over time. Through the personal tragic loss, to past and current prevention efforts, research and experts in the field, Theo provides this practical handbook full of evidence-based practices to serve as a useful tool to guide all educators in developing a successful suicide prevention program.
— Dena Morgan, MAEd., MAFP, School Prevention Coordinator, Queen Creek, AZ

As educators, we can benefit from a better understanding of what causes students’ suicidal thoughts. The book provides both a practical approach and a means to help us understand how our feelings can cause inaction that can result in danger for those we care most about. I also found that Schiro’s work spoke to me on how to manage the relationships with my own children. As a father, I have had to navigate the difficult waters of depression and anxiety in my own child. If you are looking for a way to better understand suicide, how to prevent suicide, or how to respond when a suicide happens in your community, Schiro’s work has something for you. I appreciated the ability to use each section in isolation to meet the needs of my specific community.
— Timothy Fountain, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Scottsdale Unified School District

A Culture of Caring

A Suicide Prevention Guide for Schools (K–12)

Theodora Schiro

A Culture of Caring

A Suicide Prevention Guide for Schools (K–12)

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