unintentional terrorism: braving the issue of teen suicide together - community youth building...
DESCRIPTION
2013 Annual Risky Business Conf Presentation, Ames IA. Story, lessons, and tools from loss of 3 Mount Vernon Iowa students to suicide – perspectives of school Superintendent, Counselor, Police Officer, TV News Director & Community Resiliency Project CEO Dr. Mollie Marti. Teen suicide is a community issue, not a school issue. We must create partnerships between school, police, media, local mental health providers, businesses, and all community members with an eye on our primary goal and responsibility: Building community-wide safety nets to save and strengthen youth. We provided toolkits on the topics of school crisis response, suicide intervention protocols, media relations, and community school partnerships and shared our research-based ECCE Resiliency Model that guides youth builders to engage, connect, challenge, and enrich youth. We build resiliency by intentionally seeking to engage each child where he or she is, connect them with trusted adults, challenge them to grow, and enrich them toward wholeness. Model and Resources at http://www.communityresiliencyproject.org.TRANSCRIPT
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Unintentional Terrorism
Braving the Issue of Teen Suicide... Together
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Team Members
Jennifer Holub Tischer, MVCSD – Middle School Counselor
Doug Shannon, MV Police Sergeant and Crisis Team Member
Pam Ewell, MVCSD Superintendent
Adam Carros, KCRG News Director
Mollie Marti, CEO of Community Resiliency Project
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Our Time Together…
Our Story from Different Perspectives
WAMs (Walk Away Messages!)
Toolkits
Q&A
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Our Story…
May 19, 2011 MOUNT VERNON, Iowa (AP) - Officials say a third Mount Vernon high school student has committed suicide this school year.District Superintendent Pam Ewell said in an email to parents on Wednesday that the ninth-grade boy died Tuesday. The email didn't say how the boy died. His name has not been released.Ewell says counselors are being made available to students and staffers. The school has around 400 students.A 17-year-old junior died Nov. 18 after his suicide attempt in a bathroom at the high school on Nov. 15. A 14-year-old freshman killed himself at his home last month.Mount Vernon is in eastern Iowa, 11 miles east of Cedar Rapids.
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One detrimental theme that quickly swelled through out the community:
“What is wrong with that school, and what is the district going to do about it?!”
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Our Story
Through the eyes…
of a
school superintendent
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Single Episode: School Crisis Response
Lock down: Practice lock down helped teachers face and remove barriers of “it’s not my job” to respond to crises.
Crisis Team: School, Community Police, Responders
In today’s world…MUST change the ideology of how staff view their role in crises.
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WAMs: Administration
• Inform teachers of lock down, purpose, and transition as soon as possible.
• Provide as much recovery support to staff as you do for students.
• Minimize rumors and anxiety with quick, clear, responsible communication with teachers, students, parents, and community.
• Understand that after a public attempt or suicide, the work is just beginning....
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TOOL BOX
School Crisis Response Essentials
Communicating with Parents & Community
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Our Story
Through the eyes…
of a
police officer andcrisis team member
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Crisis Response
School relationship with law enforcement/responders critical.
Failure to plan = Planning to fail!
Empower faculty and staff through training/drills.
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WAMs: Crisis Team
• Teamwork! Gather resources to manage crisis.
• Prepare for the worst, hope for the best. Be ready for continuation of events.
• How are you? Really?
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Student-driven efforts toward recovery have been powerful.
In stark contrast, school media relations were challenging.
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Our Story Continues Beyond School Borders…
Schools must educate and guide local media before, within, and after a student suicide.
Reduce contagion while informing.
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Our Story
Through the eyes…
of a
news director
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Media Coverage
Purpose: reporting news while preventing further harm.
Policy: Do not report suicides except for public incidents.
Information aids crisis control.
Media plays important role in de-stigmatizing mental health.
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WAMs: Media
Use Suicide Prevention Lifeline Guidelines to reduce contagion.
Respect privacy of family and friends.
A suicide is not a news story. Trends, prevention and intervention is the story.
Partner with media to promote public safety, change social norms, and distribute resources.
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TOOL BOX
Post Crisis Media Toolkit
Guidelines for schools, community, and media.
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Our Story
Through the eyes…
of the community
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Community Perspective
A text…an email…a phone call.
‘‘Notice: A shooting occurred at the Mt. Vernon H. S. around noon and there is now a lockdown. No other facts are known. Please pray for the victims and the shooter/s, plus safety for all the staff and authorities who must deal with it and, of course, the students in the building at the time. It has been on the news, so keep tuned.’’
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The BIG WAM!
Suicide is a COMMUNITY issue…
not a SCHOOL issue.
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WAMs: Community
1. Resiliency is about relationships.
2. Every child needs support.
3. Taking the high road pays off.
4. Communication is essential.
5. It’s about the journey, not the finish line.
(Excerpted from 7 Lessons from a Resilient Community available at www.communityresiliencyproject.org)
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TOOL BOX
Quick Start Guide to Community Resiliency
Bullying & Teen Suicide Audio
www.communityresiliency project.org
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Our Story of Loss Deepens…
Student suicide on April 19, 2011.
Missing student search on April 21.
Student suicide on May 17.
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School Response
Use information (social media, Teenscreen, “at-risk” records) to prioritize.
At-Risk Coordinator
Search Institute - staff training
Therapy Dog
Negotiate anniversary dates
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School Response
Sources of Strength training
Suicide Ideation Protocol
Joined Linn County Suicide Prevention Coalition
Assisted other schools
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TOOL BOX
Sample Crisis Intervention Protocol
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Community Response
Thrive Mount Vernon• Suicide Intervention• Youth Building• School Support
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Community Response
ECCE Resiliency Model
Engage
Connect
Challenge
Enrich
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TOOL BOX
Resiliency Model
More Resources:www.community resiliencyproject.org
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We Remember…
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Our Story Continues…
Moving Forward
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What is YOUR Story…and how can we help?
Question&
Answer
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We Are Here to Help
http://www.communityresilien
cyproject.org