Child and Adolescent Suicidal Behavior: School-Based Prevention, Assessment, and Intervention

by David N. Miller PhD, William M. Reynolds PhD (Foreword by)

Overview

This comprehensive resource—now revised and expanded—provides school practitioners with an evidence-based framework for preventing and effectively responding to youth suicidal behavior. David N. Miller guides readers to understand, screen, and assess for suicide risk in students in grades K–12. He presents collaborative strategies for intervening appropriately within a multi-tiered system of support. The book also shows how to develop a coordinated plan for postvention in the aftermath of a suicide, offering specific dos and don'ts for supporting students, parents, and school personnel. User-friendly tools include reproducible handouts; the book's large-size format facilitates photocopying. Purchasers get access to a webpage where they can download and print the reproducible materials.

New to This Edition
*Chapter on the roles and responsibilities of the school-based suicide prevention team.
*Significantly revised coverage of screening and suicide risk assessment.
*Situates prevention and intervention within a schoolwide multi-tiered system of support.
*Updated throughout with current data, practical recommendations, and resources.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781462546589
Publisher:	Guilford Publications, Inc.
Publication date:	07/05/2021
Series:	The Guilford Practical Intervention in the Schools Series
Edition description:	Second Edition
Pages:	248
Sales rank:	412,885
Product dimensions:	7.90(w) x 10.40(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

David N. Miller, PhD, is Professor of School Psychology at the University at Albany, State University of New York, and a past president of the American Association of Suicidology. He was an invited expert reviewer for the national documents After a Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools and the Model School District Policy on Suicide Prevention and has served on the editorial boards of several professional journals. A frequent presenter at national, state, and regional conferences, Dr. Miller consults regularly with schools and other organizations on the topic of youth suicide prevention. Prior to his current academic position, he was a practicing school psychologist and has extensive experience working in schools with youth exhibiting suicidal behavior and other emotional and behavioral problems. Dr. Miller has over 100 professional publications, including over 60 journal articles and book chapters, primarily in the areas of school-based suicide prevention, youth suicidal behavior, and internalizing problems in children and adolescents.

Table of Contents

Foreword, William M. Reynolds
1. Suicidal Behavior in Children and Adolescents: An Introduction and Overview
2. Youth Suicidal Behavior and the Schools
3. Teamwork, Roles and Responsibilities, and Self-Care in Schools
4. Public Health Approaches to Youth Suicide Prevention
5. Tier 1 School-Based Suicide Prevention Programs for All Students
6. Identifying Tier 2 and Tier 3 Students and Linking Assessment to Intervention
7. Tier 2 and Tier 3 Interventions for At-Risk and High-Risk Students
8. School-Based Suicide Postvention
Epilogue
Appendix. Online Resources
References
Index
 

Interviews

School psychologists, counselors, administrators, and social workers; also of interest to child/adolescent clinical psychologists and psychiatrists. May serve as a supplemental text in graduate-level courses.

Editorial Reviews

"Miller, a seasoned school psychologist and an authority on suicidal behavior in young people, has provided what I view as the single most important work on this topic for any professional working in school settings. The thoroughly updated second edition reflects many changes in the field and includes new material on such crucial topics as coordination of care within schools and the prevention of burnout among school personnel. A practical, accessible, and complete treatment of this concerning public health problem."—Thomas E. Joiner, PhD, The Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor of Psychology, Florida State University

"When reviewing a resource for schools, I look for three things—whether it is well researched, speaks to education professionals, and gives practical guidance to elevate practice and improve the lives, safety, and health of our next generation. Child and Adolescent Suicidal Behavior, Second Edition, ticks all these boxes. Miller provides a thorough grounding in theory, research, and practice in a way that is readable and engaging. Suicidal behavior is on a steady upward climb among our nation’s youth, making this a critical and timely read for school-based professionals and school leaders.”—Pat Breux, RN, BSN, youth suicide prevention specialist, New York

"Once again, Miller has provided a 'must-have' book for school personnel, educators, and clinicians. Miller shares his expertise and knowledge regarding the complex topic of youth suicidal behavior in an easy-to-understand manner. Resource-rich chapters address screening, identification, and comprehensive school-based suicide prevention programming. Clinicians will appreciate the coverage of youth-focused assessment measures as well as specific topics that need to be addressed during clinical interviews. This book has become my go-to resource, both when developing my university lectures and when working with elementary and secondary schools."—James J. Mazza, PhD, College of Education, University of Washington

"Miller has been a long-time leading expert in the area of youth suicide and an important voice in advocacy for school-based prevention, intervention, and postvention. He poignantly explains that while the topic of suicide is challenging for schools and communities to address, avoiding it too often results in further loss of life. The good news is that this book provides a comprehensive 'how-to' guide for schools to follow. Miller presents useful, evidence-based strategies and programs for school and clinical professionals. The second edition is even more user friendly and informative than the first, with an emphasis on incorporating suicide prevention into multi-tiered systems of support."—John Kelly, PhD, school psychologist, Commack School District, New York; past president, National Association of School Psychologists

From the Publisher

Reviewer: Charla Sue Waxman, BS, MBA, EdD (Lake Behavioral Hospital)
Description: As this book notes, approximately 800,000 people die by suicide every year, suicide is the second leading cause of death among 15- to 29-year-olds, and, on average, eight children and teens, ages 10-19, die by suicide every day in the U.S. One death by suicide is too many. This book is designed to help school-based personnel react and respond with prevention and intervention information, skills, and tools. It also provides postvention responses. It is an evidence-based and quality driven model for what all personnel in schools can do to impact the suicide crisis.
Purpose: There are no objectives more worthy than those oriented to saving lives. This book aims to do just that. A section title in the preface says it all: Preventing Child and Adolescent Suicide: A Sense of Urgency. With a general concern on the part of many school employees that they are undertrained to effectively deal with suicide and all the issues surrounding this crisis, this book comes to the rescue. This book offers a detailed overview of the subject, what has been done in the past, how to define roles in such a process, and a look at prevention, intervention, and postvention and assessment. Worthy objectives? Every school should make this book required reading.
Audience: The author has worked in schools and has extensive experience working with youth with suicidal ideation and behaviors and connecting mental health conditions. He has committed to the field of suicidology through his leadership with the American Association of Suicidology. He has written about suicidal behavior and youth and presents on the topic in schools. He lends his expertise to the audience of this book — school personnel at any level and anyone who cares about kids and is willing to find a way to reach out.
Features: This very readable guide offers school personnel an opportunity to explore the myriad efforts that can have an impact on the youth crisis of suicide. Thought-provoking quotes open each chapter. Prevention, intervention, and postvention are covered in detail and there is something for every level of school personnel in here. Among the appreciated features are sporadic pull-out boxes of statistics and concepts to drive home salient points. The author wants this book to be used, hence the handouts intended for regular use. It comprehensively covers statistics, myths, and facts about suicide, how to define roles in schools, programs that can help high-risk students, and what to do if suicide occurs. However, it does not forget the helper and discusses self-care for those who are in caregiver roles.
Assessment: This is a practical resource guide. Truly, enough said! The author is an authority on the subject of suicide and suicidal behaviors in youth and imbues this second edition with every ounce of his passion to make a difference for kids and the school personnel who want to give youth their very best. This book is user-friendly, including handouts and assessment measures, information on taking care of caregivers, and evidence-based strategies for many levels of support. Please buy this book. Kids matter!

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