Student Suicide Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Student Suicide - Assignment Example The purpose of this paper is to particularly shed light on student suicide in a school setting. School counselors have received significant blame for the upsurge of suicide cases and this paper explains their role in preventing suicides and the dilemmas that they encounter in their line of work as they seek to find amicable solutions in light of all legal and ethical requirements. The Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting among other staggering occurrences in schools across the nation serve as clear indicators of the psychological distress that is present across students in different institutions (Taub, 2013). Statistics indicate that more students die from suicide in colleges than from alcohol related accidents (Lamis, 2011). As of 2004 Alaska stood as the highest ranking in student suicide with more recent statistics indicating a steady increase in suicides across various states (Appendix A). More female students contemplate suicide in comparison to their male counterparts with a s tatistic of 17.4% showing just how serious the matter is (Lamis, 2011). These statistics bring out the importance of enforcing structures within learning institutions that nip the problem in the bud by allowing early intervention by well trained counselors. However, this is not the full solution; in order to ensure effective solving of the matter, it is necessary to assess the various dilemmas that these counselors are faced with in their practice, and how best they can go about their work in ensuring efficacious handling of various cases. Counselors are guided by various rules and regulations that are aimed and ensuring effective service to all. They are required to ensure confidentiality at all times, they must observe rules and regulations maximize benefit and allow only the most unavailable harm to clients (beneficence and non- malfeasance), they must ensure that they in no way neglect the needs of their clients and that their dealings with clients adhere to justice and fidelity guidelines. Expectedly, the task is quite challenging as counselors are forced to balance legal and ethical requirement of their patients with their preferences and prejudices in order to work out a balanced practice that effectively serves the need of the clients while protecting practitioners from legal liability. Other than legal concerns, counselors are also forced to assess institutional policies and community norms in their decision making (Whitaker & Slimak, 1990). The most serious liabilities that counselors are forced to address result from legal action initiated by clients who feel that their rights have been violated in light of the provisions of the counseling process. Of these, the most common involve violations of privacy (Whitaker & Slimak, 1990). In cases where counselors feel that they have justifiable cause to infer that students under their assessment are likely to kill themselves, they are required to report their concerns to the students’ guardians and l ocal authorities. Often, students initiate legal action on the ground of a confidentiality breach. In ensuring non-malfeasance and beneficence, counselors are required to apply their best judgment. This entails assessing the seriousness of a student’s proclamation and intent. If a counselor concludes that a student’s condition is potent enough to result in attempted suicide, he/she is required to take the necessary actions to inform guardians and other authorities’ e.g. Local psychiatric officers (Taub, 2013). In the event that the counselor’s conclusions are not accurate, various privileges and rights are broken. These include provisions for