Warning Signs

Spring Requires Extra Vigilance

Suzanne Sibole School Safety, School Violence Prevention, Suicide Prevention, Violence Prevention, Warning Signs , , ,

Extra Vigilance in Spring Months

Spring requires extra vigilance when it comes to identifying warning signs of trouble in our students. There are many rites of passage that occur during the spring months – prom, graduation, senior skip days, and the ending of the school year. All of these events carry the potential for misuse of substances, compromised driving skills, and the sense of freedom that is often accompanied by risk-taking in teens.

But, what I’m talking about here is the increase in suicide numbers that tend to peak during the months of May and June. During an average month, 700 persons die by suicide. During the months of May and June, that number increases to 800 per month. This effect is also seen in the southern hemisphere, in opposite months.

The complexity of suicide makes it difficult to determine the exact reason for the increase, but researchers have a few theories. One is that an individual’s energy may increase as the weather warms, providing just enough of a surge to complete a long-considered suicide. Other theories deal with agitation caused by bipolar disorder, inflammatory diseases, low vitamin D levels, and even tree pollens.You can take a deeper dive into this topic here.

It’s also important to be aware that there are a number of anniversary dates of school violence in the spring. For students who may be considering violence, the following anniversary dates can be significant:

April 1, Prescott High School, Prescott, Arkansas

April 2, Oikos University, Oakland, California

April 2, Cardozo High School, Washington, D.C.

April 9, Gloversville Middle School, Gloversville, New York

April 10, North Park Elementary School, San Bernardo, California

April 11, East English Village Preparatory Academy, Detroit, Michigan

April 12, New River Community College, Christainsburg, Virginia

April 12, Raytown South Middle School, Raytown, Missouri

April 13, Wayne Community College, Goldsboro, North Carolina

April 13, Sheeler Charter High School, Apopka, Florida

April 14, John McDonough High School, New Orleans, Louisiana

April 15, Booker T. Washington High School, Tulsa, Oklahoma

April 16, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia

April 17, Flex High School, Flint, Michigan

April 19, Ross Elementary School, Houston, Texas

April 20, Columbine High School

April 20, Forest High School, Ocala Florida

April 23, Antigo High School Prom, Antigo Wisconsin

April 24, Red Lion Area Junior High School, Red Lion, Pennsylvania

April 25, Wynbrooke Elementary School, Stone Mountain, Georgia

April 30, University of North Carolina-Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina

May 4, Paine College, Augusta, Georgia

May 4, North Lake College, Irving Texas

May 4, East High School, Pueblo, Colorado

May 5, Paine College, Augusta Georgia

May 5, Highpoint High School, Belleville, Maryland

May 7, Randallstown High School, Randallstown, Maryland

May 7, STEM School Highlands Ranch, Highlands Ranch, Colorado

May 8, Second Chance High School, Chicago, Illinois

May 9, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio

May 10, San Jose State University, San Jose, California

May 11, Highland High School, Palmdale, California

May 14, Duvall County School Bus, Jacksonville, Florida

May 13, Southside High School, Greenville, South Carolina

May 13, Chimborazo Elementary School, Richmond, Virginia

May 15, Augusta High School, Augusta, Kansas

May 15, Moss Bluff Elementary School, Lake Charles, Louisiana

May 16, Dixon High School, Dixon, Illinois

May 17, Raines High School, Jacksonville, Florida

May 18, Harvard College Dormitory, Cambridge, Massachusetts

May 18, South Gate High School, South Gate, California

May 18, Larose Louisiana

May 18, Santa Fe High School, Texas

May 18, Mount Zion High School, Jonesboro, Georgia

May 21, Thompson K-12 International Academy, Southfield, Michigan

May 21, Clarke Street Elementary School, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

May 23, University of California-Santa Barbara

May 23, Highlands Intermediate School, Pearl City,k Hawaii

May 24, Robb Elementary School, Uvalde, Texas

May 24, Technical High School, St. Cloud, Minnesota

May 24, Redland Middle School, Homestead, Florida

May 25, Noblesville West Middle School, Noblesville, Indiana

May 26, McLain High School, Tulsa, Oklahoma

May 27, Horizon Elementary School, Everett, Washington

If you’re not sure what to look for in terms of warning signs, check out the suicide warning signs and violence warning signs freebies from Youth Risk Prevention Specialists. If you need more help, please contact me for training opportunities.

Is Autism a Risk Factor for Violence?

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Those of us who have worked with individuals with autism know that some of the behaviors we’ve seen, mesh with some of the warning signs of violence. It’s important that we learn to separate these two things to get a clearer picture of what is attributable to autism and doesn’t carry a risk of violence, and what may be a warning sign that needs attention.

Isolation, challenges with social interactions and emotional regulation, low frustration tolerance, intense interests/fixation, depression, anxiety and inflexibility can be signs of autism. They can also be warning signs that something is not going well with a neurotypical individual.

How do we know the difference?

Some questions to ask include: has the person been diagnosed with autism? Is there existing comorbidity with a mental illness or personality disorder? Are there new stressors in his/her life? What have others observed? Any recent changes in behavior? Does the person grasp social nuances? Does he or she understand and back off if told that behavior is inappropriate? Does the person exhibit social naivete? This list is barely scratching the surface as the interplay between these elements is highly complex.

Inquire of the person of concern: is this something you feel frequently? Is it normal for you? Is something new going on that has triggered these feelings? Can you tell me more about it? How long have you been dealing with this? Do you understand why this behavior is inappropriate? Do you think you’ll be able to change it?

Consider: Is this person on a pathway to violence? Is there evidence of holding a grudge? Is there evidence of planning for revenge or violence? Has the person mentioned revenge or violence to others? These are important indicators of potential violence in both neurotypical and neurodivergent persons. The possibility also exists that an individual with autism may become an unwitting partner in crime of violence, in part, because of his or her naivete and vulnerability. Comorbidity also increases violence risk for individuals with autism.

We need to realize that autism affects just .08 of the population. Yet, when researchers studied the Mother Jones database of lone shooters, they found diagnosed ASD in 8% of shooters and some indicators of ASD in 21% of shooters. While it’s more likely that a person with autism will be a victim than a perpetrator of violence, some typical behaviors and social/emotional challenges experienced by an individual with autism are similar to those exhibited by a person on the pathway to violence.

It’s critical to have an in-depth developmental history and mental health assessment done by a licensed mental health clinician with training in the factors related to violence risk. It’s also vital to understand that ASD individuals are not more likely to perpetrate violence than the general population. Rather, the coexistence of psychosis, psychopathy, mood disorders and developmental failures, and adverse early experiences contribute to increased risk of violence.

It’s up to us to investigate any warning signs and do what we can to assist with troubling emotions. But, it’s not at all easy to distinguish the root of these behaviors and emotions. I recommend doing additional research on this complex topic and partnering with a psychologist or psychiatrist if you are faced with this situation. I’ve listed some resources  below to get you started.

 

Source material:

White, S. G., Meloy, J. R., Mohandie, K., & Kienlen, K. (2017). Autism spectrum disorder and violence: Threat assessment issues. Journal of Threat Assessment and Management, 4(3), 144–163. https://doi.org/10.1037/tam0000089

Allely, C.S., Minnis, H., Thompson, L., Wilson, P. & Gillberg, C. (2014). Neurodevelopmental and psychosocial risk factors in serial killers and mass murders. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 19, 288-301. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2014.04.004

Allely, C. S., Wilson, P., Minnis, H., Thompson, L., Yaksic, E., & Gillberg, C. (2017). Violence is rare in autism: When it does occur, is it sometimes extreme? The Journal of Psychology, 151, 49–68.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00223980.2016.1175998

Could this happen to your school?

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Jury awards school shooting victim

A jury in California recently awarded 3.8 million dollars to a school shooting victim. The school district was ordered to pay 54% of that 3.8 million, a jury finding the school 54% negligent.

Could this happen to your school?

The prosecutor argued that the school did not do enough to protect the student from harm. The school was found to have ignored “red flags” which included threats and a very disturbing violent drawing. Six school employees were also found negligent.

In this particular case, the perpetrator’s family also brought suit against the school district, alleging that they did not follow state laws regarding bullying and sexual harassment.

How can we avoid being caught in this type of situation?

I believe it’s imperative to have safety protocols and processes in place, provide safety training for all staff, and adhere to your school’s protocols for both intervening in bullying and harassment and for assessing indicators of violent thoughts and threatening behavior.

Only then, will we be able to show that we have done our due diligence to protect our students from harm. Of course, we cannot always anticipate the actions someone will take, especially when those actions do not follow our own sense of values or logic. But, we must be prepared to take action when there is even the slightest hint of violence or violent ideology.

To further assess your liability quotient when it comes to school safety, check out these critical points. If you find that your staff is in need of training, or your school needs help developing safety protocols, take a look at this.

I wish you a safe and productive school year!

Seeing the warning signs before it’s too late

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Warning signs

Each time we hear of another incident of targeted school violence, the following days bring news reports of warning signs that were missed along the path toward violence. Admittedly, it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to predict violence. But, there are many signs of trouble that leave me nodding my head as I go through my mental list along with the reporter on the evening news.

Seeing the warning signs

In my workshops, I do not teach staff to predict violence, but to prevent it, by assessing dangerousness. Dangerousness is situational and fluid, and needs to be addressed when the signs are telling us that an individual is troubled and moving toward a decision to act in violence. Sometimes, we have a long window during which to act; other times, things move along rapidly. Knowing what to look for and having a plan in place to intervene can make the difference between life and death.

If you’d like to learn more about how to develop and implement this type of plan, simply click here.