DIRECTIONS: In 250-300 words reply to the classmate discussion post below. Your reply must add some sort of feedback to the classmate. Be sure to site and reference one source in your reply. Please remember to include appropriate formatting using the APA manual, 6thed. This is very important as a graduate level student. Be precise, concise and clear and give you instructor exactly what the rubric and instructions ask for when completing your assignments. Graduate quality work is expected to be free from spelling and grammatical errors, written according to the most current APA formatting guidelines, and adhere to the specific assignment rubrics that are provided. APA style also applies to reference pages and citations.
As Susan's school counselor, there are numerous issues that must be addressed. The most important and most pressing issue, is Susan's wanting to commit suicide and having a plan on how she would commit it. This is a serious situation that needs immediate attention. The ACA Code of Ethics section B.2. lists the exceptions to confidentiality and the duty to warn when there is "foreseeable harm." The ASCA Code of Ethics section A.7 speaks about when a student is a danger to themselves or others. Suicide is a definite danger to oneself. The AACC Code of Ethics section 1-430 speaks about protecting persons from deadly harm. As school counselors, we are ethically bound to break confidentiality if someone tells us they plan to commit suicide. This will hurt some of the rapport built with the student, but that is an unfortunate side effect of doing what is right and ethical in this situation.
Due to Susan being a minor, we are legally obligated to the parents, yet ethically obligated to Susan as the minor. Yet, we have the dilemma that Susan stated her parents would abuse her if she found out. It is not up to us to decide whether or not that is an accurate statement but we must be focused on Susan's well being. In this difficult case, I would have another adult come into my office with Susan so she would remain with an adult at all times, and would make the Principal aware of the potential suicidal student in my office.
I would them contact our local community services board and request a psychological evaluation with the likelihood of her being admitted to the hospital for mental health help likely under a TDO. I would consult with the intake worker and possibly a LPC on staff about the situation. I would contact Susan's parents to make them aware of the situation. If they fault me on having her psychological evaluated, I would work towards getting an ECO to have her evaluated then likely TDO. I would also make a call to the local Department of Social Services and explain the situation to them and Susan's concerns about abuse, so that then they can decide whether or not to make it a CPS case and further investigate it.
Due to the complexity of this case, consultation and collaboration with colleagues and community services would be beneficial to all involved. When in doubt, consult, consult, and consult!I would also be available and willing to talk with Susan about spirituality in regards to her wanting to commit suicide or being a lesbian. I would also have resources available for her to be able to refer her to other agencies to help her. I would not push my beliefs or values on her but would be open to listening to her talk about her thoughts, feelings and spirituality. If she was a Christian and wanted to explore the biblical principles surround LGBT or suicide, I would be happy to facilitate those discussions.
I would also need to address the bullying with the other girls and work on addressing the situation within the school, utilizing small groups or work on some classroom guidance lessons addressing bullying. School bullying is a widespread public health problem and victimization of LGBT students has been reported for decades (Russell, Ryan, Toomey, Diaz, and Sanchez, 2011). Experts report that it appears to be increasing in prevalence and severity, and involves more vicious behaviors and deadlier outcomes than in previous years (Russell et al, 2011). I would also address with Susan her feelings and sexuality. If she did believe she was a lesbian, I would help her find the resources to work through that and be there to support her. I would have already connected with LGBT resources in the community previously when networking with the community and establishing relationships, so I would give her resources for additional support outside of my scoop of duties.
Russell et al (2011) conduced a study assessing school victimization due to actual or perceived LGBT identity between the ages of 13 and 19 years. The association between LGBT school victimization and young adult depression, suicidal ideation, life satisfaction, self-esteem, and social integration, while controlling for background characteristics was also examined. A notable finding was that LGBT school victimization mediates the strong link between gender and negative mental health-depression and suicidal ideation (Russell et al, 2011). The results show that males' elevated depression and suicidal ideation scores can be explained once their disproportionate rates of victimization are taken into account (Russell et al, 2011).
I am Christian and this is something I would need to work on with myself as well but my goal is to help and love the children regardless of their race, gender, sexual identify, etc. I am there to help them flourish.
References
American Association of Christian Counselors.(2014). AACC Code of Ethics. Retrieved from https://www.aacc.net/about-us/code-of-ethics/
American Counseling Association.(2014). Code of ethics. Retrieved from https://www.counseling.org/docs/ethics/2014-aca-code-of-ethics.pdf?sfvrsn=4
American School Counselor Association.(2010). Ethical standards for school counselors. Retrieved from https://schoolcounselor.org/asca/media/asca/Resource%20Center/Legal%20and%20Ethical%20Issues/Sample%20Documents/EthicalStandards2010.pdf
Russell,T., Ryan, C., Toomey, R. B., Diaz, R. M. and Sanchez, J. (2011), Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Adolescent School Victimization: Implications for Young Adult Health and Adjustment.Journal of School Health, 81: 223-230. doi: 10.1111/j.1746-1561.2011.00583.x