School Crisis Response: Are You Prepared?

Transcription

1 School Crisis Response: Are You Prepared? N e w M e x i c o D e p a r t m e n t o f H e a l t h O f f i c e o f S c h o o l & A d o l e s c e n t H e a l t h A m a n d a López A s k i n, M. S. T w i l a B e c e n t i - F u n d a r k, M S W, L I S W

2 What s a school crisis? All hazards and threats to the safety of the students, staff and environment. Active shooter Suicide Violence Natural disaster What else?

3 School Crisis Suicide is the second leading cause of death for year olds. On average, 1 young person every 1 hour and 48 minutes killed themselves. If the 311 suicides below age 15 are included, 1 young person every 1 hour and 42 minutes). More teenagers and young adults die from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, influenza, and chronic lung disease, COMBINED. School shooting. American Association of Suicidology, 2012

4 Workshop Focus Overview of Postvention Guidelines. Roles for administration, staff/faculty, crisis teams, & parents. Rational to incorporate community BH resources. Importance of best practice during response and recovery. Discuss sample tools for response.

5 Florida Mental Health Institute When schools cease to attend to suicide prevention programs, the facts surrounding suicide fail to be communicated to faculty, staff and students. If this happens, a true understanding about adolescent suicide becomes clouded by false myths and presumptuous ideas, which surround the topic of suicide and act as a barrier for suicide prevention programs. Florida Mental Health Institute 2003

6 Postvention A term first coined by Shneidman (1981), the American Association of Suicidology (1998) defines suicide postvention as The provision of crisis intervention, support and assistance for those affected by a completed suicide.

7 Postvention=Prevention continuum PREVENTION PR PREVENT INTERVENTION RESPONSE (POSTVENTION) What can be done to reduce the probability of a suicide? What efforts are applied during the immediacy of a suicide? What processes are used to lessen the stress reactions to a suicide or attempt? Early Identification & Referral Programs/Projects Curriculum oriented Student based Adult dependent Policies & Procedures Safe Schools Plan Situation Stabilization Facts, Feelings, and Action Crisis Teams School District Community/Regional

8 The Goals for Postvention Provide support Reduce suicide contagion Educate on prevention and awareness Provide information Address stigma NASP, 2015

9 Levels of Response School-Limited to school settings & schoolbased personnel. District-These are events where support and involvement is required from school district personnel or members of the District Crisis Team. Community/Regional-These include largescale events during which coordination of services from the school district and local community response agencies is warranted.

10 School Suicide Prevention Plan Every school should have a suicide protocol plan as mandated by the Safe School Plan. Components should include: Identification of key players District policy Action Plan Available resources within the school and community Lines of communication

11 Safe School Plan Guidance Document from Public Education Department (PED), 2008 for Safe Schools Planning NMAC School District Wellness Policy National Incident Management System (NIMS) and Incident Command Structure (ICS)

12 Roles in a Coordinated School Response School Administration/leadership Crisis Teams Community Mental Health Resources

13 Postvention: School Administration Responsibilities Verify the death of a student. Inform school superintendent. Contact the family. Activate school based crisis response team. Inform other schools/staff where siblings attend. Schedule after school de-briefing sessions for school staff. Provide information about the death and funeral arrangements. to parents/guardians along with resource listing and warning signs. Wisconsin Components of School-Based Suicide Prevention, Intervention, Postvention Model

14 School Administration Implement a system to track students leaving school premises. Select one person as the spoke person for the media. Have school staff be visible. Provide secretaries with a script, when calls or concerned people coming to the school have inquiries. Stress the importance of self care for self and staff. Wisconsin Components of School-Based Suicide Prevention, Intervention, Postvention Model

15 Goals for Crisis Team To manage the emotional fallout within the school community. To decrease the potential for copycat behavior especially if the crisis is a suicide. To identify potential at-risk students for immediate support and connecting to resources.

16 SUICIDE CONTAGION IS REAL Suicide contagion or copycat suicides is the behavior that leads to clusters of suicides. Suicide cluster- a group of suicides or suicide attempts, or both, that occur close together in time and space. Teenagers and young adults are most at risk. They model the behaviors of their peers and the tendency to act impulsively.

17 Crisis Response Team Mobilize crisis plan/team. Meet with school staff. Review protocols to support school personnel, students, & parents. Review referral process, student monitoring, & outside resources. Announcing news to students. Parents/guardian should be notified.

18 Crisis Response Team Safe rooms/counseling support for students. Assess and determine if additional support is needed. Assist school admin. in their role when following guidelines. -notification (announcement/letters, etc) -classroom support -resource list Conduct daily debriefing with staff during postvention Plan for follow-ups like holidays or anniversary dates Wisconsin Components of School-Based Suicide Prevention, Intervention, & Postvention

19 Guidelines for Teachers/Staff Attend staff briefing. Know your building or district crisis team members. Know the referral process for students and staff. Ask for a script to inform students of death or ask team members to assist you. Be prepared for a wide arrange of emotions/responses from students. Get information on how to offer support, how to manage discussion about death/suicide, signs to watch out for and information on grief. Get information of signs to watch out for and information on grief. Resource listing to share with parents. Practice self care.

20 Parents Recognize the signs of trauma, look out for worsen reactions. Be patient. Provide security & nurture. Listen. Limit the media of graphic events. Keep a normal routine. Recognize own emotions, take of you re your own needs.

21 Community Mental Health role/functions Crisis team members. Receive referrals on site. Follow up care and coordination with school crisis team/staff. Support crisis team/staff in debriefing/grief counseling. Resource for parents and families. Prevention/awareness trainings.

22 Rational to Incorporate Community BH Resources during Response/Recovery Prevent Suicide Contagion. Work collaboratively with other individuals and entities utilizing identified safe school plan. Student Mobility. Community Cohesiveness. Schools and larger community.

23 Purpose for Response To return the school community to its normal routine as soon as possible. To decrease the negative impact on school attendance and learning. To normalize crisis reactions and reduce possible long-term effects.

24 Rationale to Respond with Best Practices Guidelines Reduce the risk of those who have witnessed or been affected by the tragedy. Reduce the onset and degree of mental health problems subsequent to a school crisis. Assist staff and students with the grieving process. Assist school in returning to its normal routine and educational pursuits.

25 Send Clear Messages Expressing grief is important and reactions are normal. No secrets especially if crisis is related to suicide. Support is available, it is okay to ask for help. Share information as it becomes available like funeral services or additional resources, etc.

26 Sample Tools Tool kit for crisis team Referral form Tracking form for follow-ups Risk assessment form Resource list Sample announcement letters for students & parents Sample scripts for school office staff Handouts for teachers/staff

27 Tracking/Follow-up Form Sample Crisis Counseling Team Log School: School Name Administrator: Seen by: Date Time Grade Reason Seen/Outcome Follow-up Needed (Y or N) CONFIDENTIAL

28 Announcement Samples Sample 1 Day 1 Sample Classroom Announcement When a suicide has occurred This morning we heard the extremely sad news that died by suicide last night. I know we are all saddened by his death and send our condolences to his family and friends. Crisis stations will be located throughout the school today for students who wish to talk to a mental health professional or support staff. Information about the funeral will be provided when it is available, and students may attend with parental permission. Sample 2 Classroom Announcement (High School) For a suspicious death not declared suicide This morning we heard the extremely sad news that died last night. This is the only information we have officially received on the circumstances surrounding the event. I know we are all saddened by s death and send our condolences to his family and friends. Crisis stations will be located throughout the school today for students who wish to talk to a mental health professional. Information about the funeral will be provided when it is available, and students may attend with parental permission. Wisconsin Components of School-Based Suicide Prevention, Intervention, & Postvention

29 Self Care Support is important for crisis response team, too. Neighboring districts, community mental health agencies and grief group support. Qualified outside help for debriefing and provide support to crisis team and staff.

30 State Resources Nancy Kirkpatrick, Youth Suicide Prevention Coordinator, Statewide Agora Crisis Line: HELP-1-NM or ( ) New Mexico Suicide Prevention Coalition:

31 National Resources for Crisis Response/Planning National Suicide Prevention Lifeline-a free, 24-hour hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. 1 (800) 273-TALK Hopeline Network -1 (800) SUICIDE ( ) Native Youth Crisis Line: Lesbian/Gay/Trans/Questioning Youth: The Trevor Line: U-Trevor ( ) (Suicide Prevention Resource Center)

32 National Resources for Crisis Response/Planning American Association of Suicidology American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Sibling Survivors of Suicide A toolkit for schools, it can be found at this website:

33 National Resources for Crisis Response/Planning, cont. Wisconsin School Based Health Model : Recommendations for Media Reporting on Suicide Poynter Reporting on Suicide Covering Teen Suicide: One Paper s Decision Suicide Prevention Action Network USA: Friends and Families of Suicide

34 The End Thank you for coming! Gracias! Ahéheeʼ