127. Suicide Prevention in Schools: What Counselors Need to Know

Carol: You're listening to the Counselor Chat podcast, a show for school counselors looking for easy to implement strategies, how to tips, collaboration, and a little spark of joy.

I'm Carol Miller, your host. I'm a full time school counselor and the face behind counseling essentials. I'm all about creating simplified systems, data driven practices, and using creative approaches to engage students.

If you're looking for a little inspiration to help help you make a big impact on student growth and success, you're.

Carol: In the right place.

Carol: Because we're better together. Ready to chat. Let's dive in.

Carol: Hi everyone and welcome back to Counselor Chat. I'm Carol Miller, your host and today we're going to talk about something that's actually incredibly important and yet sometimes very difficult to talk about.

Suicide prevention in school schools.

Now, before we begin, I want to acknowledge that this topic is heavy.

It's not an easy one to talk about,

but as school counselors, it's one we absolutely must be talking about.

Not just with each other, but with our students, our staff and our communities.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death for youth ages 10 to 24.

And that's, that's a stat we just can't ignore.

So today I'm going to share with you some practical strategies,

some real life examples,

and some reminders for how we as school counselors can be proactive in preventing suicide and supporting students in crisis.

Let me just start with a story from when I was a middle school counselor. But honestly, I've seen this start even as early as upper elementary.

A student came into my office.

They were visibly shaken.

And then they told me about a friend that had called them the night before and said they were thinking about hurting themselves.

My student told me that they didn't want to get off the phone with their friend.

They were afraid.

Afraid that if they were to hang up that something bad was going to happen.

They were terrified and they were holding onto this massive emotional weight.

And here's that thing.

That student showed incredible bravery.

They showed empathy and care and really everything we want our students to have in a friendship.

But they were also shouldering something they absolutely should not have to carry on their own.

They were too young to really know what to do,

didn't drive.

They couldn't get to their friend's house.

They were stuck between fear and helplessness.

And that's why when we have these conversations with students,

we need to do two things.

We need to, first of all, commend them for telling us.

And then two, we need to teach them what to do. Next,

we need to clearly say that you are not alone and you are not supposed to handle this alone.

And we need to teach them that in situations like these,

they need to find an adult.

Maybe that's a parent, maybe that's a teacher, maybe it's a Counselor, or even calling 911 or requesting a welfare check,

but they cannot go it alone.

And honestly, I don't think we talk about that enough with our students.

That is why it's so important that we start teaching mental health awareness,

depression,

and suicide prevention in developmentally appropriate ways,

starting really, I think, in upper elementary and middle school.

We can't wait until high school to start those conversations.

We really need to help our kids understand what suicide is,

why people might feel that way,

how to talk about it without shame,

and most importantly, what to do if they or someone they know is feeling that way.

We have to talk about trusted adults, about safety plans,

and about hope.

Because suicide prevention isn't just about stopping something tragic.

It's about building a system of support that helps students see that they matter and that help is always available.

And as we're talking about suicide prevention and suicide awareness,

let's briefly talk about safety plans, too.

Because if a student comes to you and discloses that they've had suicidal thoughts,

or even if they're just really struggling,

it's a really good idea to develop a safety plan with them.

And this might include identifying warning signs or triggers,

listing coping strategies that they can use in the moment,

creating a list of trusted adults they can go to,

having a plan for who to call in an emergency,

and identifying a few safe places where they can go if they need support.

The safety plan doesn't have to be long or complicated, but it should be clear.

It should be collaborative,

and it should be easily accessible.

And most importantly,

it should never be created in isolation.

The student, the counselor, the parent, the guardian, and sometimes an outside mental health provider, they should all be involved in that process.

Over the years,

I've had to create my.

My fair share of safety plans,

and I have to tell you,

a lot of them have been used.

In addition to all of this work with kids,

we need to shift gears for a little bit, for a moment, because suicide prevention is not something we do alone as school counselors, either.

Our teachers are often the first to notice that something is off. I mean, they are the gatekeepers, and they need to know what to look for and what to do when they're concerned.

In New York, our Office of Mental Health,

they offer a gatekeeper training program that's virtual and it's free.

Our teachers at the middle school used it and it was, I have to say, a phenomenal resource that we shared with our staff because it really,

it teaches them how to recognize the signs of depression or suicide ideation,

know when a student disclosure crosses the line and when it becomes a safety concern.

And most importantly, it teaches them how to refer that student to the mental health professional in the building.

Because like I said, they are that gatekeeper and they have to know when to keep things out and when to share things with others.

I mean, we can't expect our teachers to be therapists, but we can expect them to know what their role is and when it's time to hand off.

And if you're in another state,

I encourage you to check with your state's department of mental health or education because I'm sure many of them might have some similar gatekeeper trainings available.

And here's a critical point to address with staff as well.

We need to make sure our staff know not to wait to report a concern. I mean, how many times have we had a teacher come to us at 3 o' clock during dismissal to say, oh, I meant to tell you I was worried about the student today.

And then suddenly we're scrambling to call the student in, conduct a risk assessment, contact parents, arrange for possible transport,

and the buses are lining up outside.

I mean, I get it, teachers are busy. I have said this probably a million and one times on the podcast,

but they're overwhelmed.

I get it.

But when it comes to student safety, we can't wait until the end of the day,

and we need to make that expectation to them very clear.

If you are worried about a student, come to us right away. I mean, we talk about expectations with kids all the time.

But I think it's also fair to for us as counselors to have that expectation with our staff and to clearly communicate that expectation to them.

Because the earlier we know,

the more options we have and the more support we can provide.

So some final thoughts, my friends.

Suicide prevention in schools, I mean, it's heavy,

it's emotional and it's sometimes heartbreaking,

but it's also part of the work we do to save lives.

And while we're not miracle workers,

we are connectors,

we are educators,

we are mental health professionals,

and we are sometimes the one adult a student feels safe enough to tell.

So let's keep creating spaces for students to talk.

Let's teach them how to recognize when a friend needs help and how to get it.

Let's support our staff so they know how to act when something doesn't feel right.

And let's keep reminding each other that this work matters.

I mean, every student matters and every conversation counts.

If you are looking for some resources for suicide prevention and awareness, I'm going to drop the links to a few lessons that I have in the show notes.

I mean, my friends, they're just a starting point,

but I hope that they can help you have some of these difficult conversations.

Well, that's it for today's episode of Counselor Chat. If you found this episode helpful,

please share it with a colleague.

Because let's keep this conversation going not just in September for Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, but for every month of the year.

And until next time,

thanks for listening and thank you for everything you do to support our kids.

Have a great week.

Bye for now.

Carol: Thanks for listening to today's episode of Counselor Chat. All of the links I talked about can be found in the show notes and at counselingessentials.org podcast.

Be sure to hit follow or subscribe on your favorite podcast player. And if you would be so kind.

Carol: To leave a review, I'd really appreciate it.

Carol: Want to connect? Send me a DM on Facebook or Instagram at Counseling Essentials until next time. Can't wait till we chat. Bye for now.