Student Counselling to Recognize at risk Individuals and how to Intervene Before Violence Occurs Phi

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Student Counselling to Recognize at risk
Individuals and how to Intervene Before Violence
Occurs Phil WoodAVP Student Affairs Dean of
Studentshttp//macdrphil.wordpress.com/
The Campaign for McMaster University
The Campaign for McMaster University
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University Student Mental Health and its
Relationship to Campus SafetyPhil WoodAVP
Student Affairs Dean of Students
The Campaign for McMaster University
The Campaign for McMaster University
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The Delicate Balance of Security vsThe
Provision of Help to Troubled Students
The Campaign for McMaster University
The Campaign for McMaster University
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Outline

• Campus landscape
• Statistics on MH
• Suicide Prevention is Violence Prevention
• Profiling is not the answer
• Supporting Students in Difficulty
• Student Code of Conduct

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Expectations of Safety and Protection

• A culture of heavily involved parents.
• University reassurances regarding safety.
• Reality that our campuses are open, accessible
  and vulnerable to violence.
• Examples of violence in Canada and the U.S. (e.g.
  VTU, NIU, Dawson College, Ecole Poly)
• Campuses are safer than cities

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Feeling Welcome
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Violence

• Universities are microcosms of the greater
  society (albeit safer)
• Violence includes physical assault, rape,
  stalking, dating violence, murder
• Violence shatters the fantasy of campuses as a
  safe heaven
• Mental health services are under increasing
  pressure to identify and treat potentially
  violent students
• Mental illness and violence- the mentally ill
  are much more often the victims than the
  perpetrators

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International Students

• May be at increased risk if
• - shy
• - lacking social skills
• - lacking a support network
• - having language/communication problems
• - having financial/academic difficulties

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Clinical Challenges on Campus MH issues,
violence, suicide

• Depression - rates have nearly doubled many come
  to campus already in treatment and/or are on
  medications
• Dangerous or disruptive behaviors (disturbed and
  disturbing students)
• Distressed and distressing students
• Eating Disorders - about 6
• Anxiety Disorders - 9.1
• Personality Disorders - socially disconnected
  disruptive distressing
• Self-destructive self-injurious self-harming
  behaviors cutting

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Data From 2006 American College Health
Association (ACHA)

• Young Adults ages 18-24 have the highest
  prevalence of diagnosable forms of mental illness
  in the whole population at 27
• Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for
  college students (less than general population)
• 95 of college students who commit suicide suffer
  from mental illness, usually depression
• 9 of students report suicide ideation. 1 in 12
  has made a suicide plan
• 17 of college students practice self harm
• 75 of people with schizophrenia develop the
  disease between the ages of 15-25

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ACHA-NCHA Findings Summary
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2006 AUCCCD SURVEY

• 9 of enrolled students seen
• 16.4 re referred for psychiatric evaluation
• 25 are on psychiatric medications (17 in 2000
  9 in 1994)
• 91.8 believe that the number of students with
  severe psychological problems has increased in
  recent years
• 40.1 of clients had severe psychological
  problems, 8.3 so severe they cant remain in
  school without extensive psychological help

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2006 AUCCCD Survey

• (367 Campuses Reporting)
• 30.5 believe that violent incidents against
  students have increased over the past 5 years
• 466 cases of obsessive pursuit with 129 students
  being injured and 10 being killed by their
  pursuer
• 142 suicides only 10 current/former clients

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2007 AUCCCD Survey(272 Campuses Reporting)

• 8.5 of enrolled students seek counseling
• 49 of clients have severe psychological problems
• 271 cases of obsessive pursuit with 80 students
  being injured and 9 being killed by their pursuer
• 105 suicides 21.8 current/former clients
• Post VTU 30.5 report policy revisions re
  communicating with parents about students

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Centers Reporting an Increase of Students with
Severe Psychological Problems
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• Rampage Shootings are almost always suicides
  Suicide Prevention is Violence Prevention
• Pavela Report 8.7 Feb. 15/08

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Suicide

• Wide and lasting impact on a campus
• 2nd or 3rd leading cause of death- over 1100
  suicides per year on U.S. campuses
• Students at risk those with pre-existing mental
  illness and those that develop them while in
  college those who lack coping and other life
  skills
• Less than 20 of college students who committed
  suicide were current or former counselling centre
  clients

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National (U.S.) Suicide Data

• 1.3 13 out of every 1000 students.
• With 18 million enrolled students
• 234,000 suicide attempts every year.
• 19,500 every month.
• 642 attempts everyday.

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Centre for Student Development offers suicide
prevention program by Susan BubakOctober 15,
2007 Question. Persuade. Refer. These three
steps can help prevent someone from committing
suicide. Staff members at the Centre for Student
Development have recently completed a 10-hour
self-study course in QPR, a suicide prevention
program that will also be offered to those who
work with students on a regular basis, such as
academic advisors and peer helpers.
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Waterloo Daily BulletinFriday September 14, 2007

• 'Fewer will die' after suicide training
• "Ask a question, save a life" that's the
  central teaching of a suicide prevention program
  that's being introduced on campus today. Its
  title QPR, short for the three steps of
  Question, Persuade, and Refer.

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• Queens has used MHFA with housing staff
• Proposal to have a session for OCSA
• Program does not teach people how to be
  therapists
• Recognize signs and symptoms of MH problems
• Provide initial help
• Guide a person to appropriate professional help
• Added benefit MHFA can help meet training
  requirements for regulations of AODA

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• Mental Illness can become a disability
• Under Human Rights Law disability includes both
  past disabilities and perceived disabilities in
  addition to current ones
• A university has a duty to accommodate under the
  Human Rights Code

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• From The collection use and disclosure of
  personal information Hicks Morely opinion to
  COU
• (Discussed tomorrow)
• creators of the Human Rights Code...did intend
  that universities and other institutions manage
  security risks without reliance on discriminatory
  stereotypes and without reckless disregard to the
  privacy of individuals.

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Should hidden mental health issues be
exposed? After recent fatal campus shootings,
ASU examines whether to require students to
disclose mental health histories  by Matt
Culbertson published on Tuesday, February 19,
2008 Students' mental health history may no
longer be private if campus safety
recommendations are put into play. ASU could
begin reviewing this week whether it would be
feasible and beneficial to campus safety to
require students to disclose their mental health
histories.
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• Profiling is not the answer
• There is no accurate or useful profile of the
  school shooter
• 2003 NRC Report Deadly Lessons Understanding
  Lethal School Violence

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Crisis Management Group

• Vice President (Administration) - Chair
• AVP (Student Affairs) Co Chair
• AVP (Academic) Co Chair
• Director of Security
• AVP (Facilities Services)
• AVP (Human resources)
• Director of Public and Government Relations
• Manager EOHSS

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Committee to Support Students in Difficulty

• Dean of Students
• Director of CSD
• Clinical Director, Psychologist
• Director, Campus Health
• Ombud
• Director Human Rights and Equity Services
• Sergeant, Crime Prevention (crucial!)
• Chaplain
• Coordinator Residence Life
• International Students Advisor
• Judicial Affairs Coordinator
• AVP (Academic)

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Assessment of Behavioural Risk Team (ABT)

• Dean of Students (Chair)
• Director of Campus Health
• Director of Centre for Student Development
• Director of Security
• others as required (Coordinator Residence Life,
  Psychologist, Doctor, AVP (Acad), Psychiatrist)

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Mental Health Team

• One of the recommendations from VTU
• Integrated services
• Counselling, Psychiatrist, Student Health
  (physicians), Disability Services,
• Conferences weekly
• Mental Health Nurse triages

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Student Affairs 207Gilmour Hall Phone
905.525.9140 Ext. 27455 Dr. Philip E. Wood 1280
Main Street E. FAX [phone] Associate Vice
Pres. Hamilton, ON, Canada Email
avpstudentaffairs_at_mcmaster.ca Dean of
Students L8S 4L8 http//studentaffairs_at_mcmaster.
ca
Memorandum to Faculty Members and
T.A.s From Phil Wood, Associate Vice President
(Student Affairs) Dean of Students Re Teaching
Troubled Students Date September 4, 2007 What
should I do if I have concerns about a
student? You will find pertinent data and general
advice in this memorandum. You should also
consult the Orange folder - Connections II
Identifying and Referring a Student in
Difficulty. Whats most important to remember is
that trained colleagues are standing by to help.
Campus Security (Dial 88) will respond to threats
of violence or any other violations of law or
student conduct regulations. The Dean of
Students, responsible for student conduct, is
authorized to impose an immediate suspension
(followed by a hearing) if a student engages in
threatening or disruptive behavior. As well,
mental health professionals can initiate a
mandatory evaluation process or even invoke
procedures to dismiss students who pose a direct
threat to self or others.
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Student Codes of Conduct

• Brock University has a well developed portion of
  their SCC devoted to Students at Risk that can
  lead to Involuntary Withdrawal
• McMaster University has recently modified its SCC
  to contain sections allowing for Voluntary
  Withdrawal
• University of Western Ontario is pursuing a Safe
  Campus Community approach

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Conclusions

• Students are the victims
• We are trying to help students cope
• Help us help students by keeping them safe