Identifying Suicidal Signs

Identifying Signs of Abuse, Drug Use, and Suicidal Tendencies in Students As an educator, one of my responsibilities will not only be to educate my students, but also look out for the well-being of my children as well. Unfortunately, in today’s society, there are children and adolescents abused, abusing drugs, or even has suicidal tendencies. As a teacher, it will be important to be aware of the signs to signify that my students are potentially being abused, using drugs, or having suicidal tendencies. Below is a list of warning signs that an educator may see with these types of abuses.
Warning Signs of Potential Abuse: * Be aggressive, oppositional, or defiant * Act out, displaying aggressive or disruptive behavior * Fear of going home * Be described as "accident prone" * Being a low achiever * Showing regressive or less mature behavior * Dislike or shrink
from physical contact

These are just a few of the signs that are listed as “Behavioral Clues That May Indicate Child Abuse” (Crosson-Tower, 2003, para. 9), since bruises are not always a sure indicator of abuse.
Warning Signs of Potential Drug Abuse:

* Withdrawal * Isolation * Fatigue * Depression * Aggressive Rebellious Behavior * Change in Friends * Drop in Academic Performance

These are a few of the signs that in an article by Bowers (2013) and according to him, “[m]ore than one of these behavioral changes must be present in the student for a substantial amount of time before an assumption is made by a teacher about drug use” (pp.
2).
Warning Signs of Suicidal Tendencies: * Loss of interest in activities previously enjoyed * “Acting out” verbally or physically, at home or at school * Preoccupation with death and dying * Loss of interest or participation in school life * Sudden reports of trouble at school * Difficulty concentrating

These are a few signs that could indicate, “[p]otential signs of suicidal feelings and thoughts” (Boston 's Children Hospital, 2013, para. 18); however, these could also be signs of depression. Moreover, a teacher should see assistance if these signs appear in one of their
students. If one of my students had any of these signs, I would be concerned. The first thing I would do is my research and find out what the protocols are when reporting suspicions of child mistreatment or abuse. Secondly, in these cases I wouldn’t second guess myself and I would report my suspicions to the appropriate authority, in addition, I would indicate that these are suspicions and that I do not know for sure if abuse is occurring. Furthermore I would do was talk to the child to see if they are willing to disclose what is going on with him or her. If the child discloses anything, I will add that to my suspicions when I turn in my report to the proper authorities. I will continue to keep a watchful eye on the student, and if anything else occurs after I make my report, I will turn that information in as well. Next, I will follow the progress that is going on in the case and ask for any updates available. Moreover, my main priority at all times is my student’s well-being and I will continue to report each case of abuse I witness because it is my responsibility to ensure my student’s safety and well-being when he or she is in my care.

References
Boston 's Children Hospital. (2013). Suicide and Teens. Retrieved from http://www.childrenshospital.org/health-topics/conditions/suicide-and-teens
Bowers, J. (2013). Warning Signs for Drug Use. Retrieved from http://www.cedu.niu.edu/~shumow/itt/drugabuse.pdf
Crosson-Tower, C. (2003). The Role of Educators in Preventing and Responding to Child Abuse and Neglect. Retrieved from https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/usermanuals/educator/educatorc.cfm