Crisis Intervention for Students of Diverse Backgrounds: School Counselors' Concerns

Abstract

Although school counselors routinely provide crisis intervention, minimal research has focused on providing such services in a manner sensitive to the unique needs of culturally, linguistically, and ethnically diverse populations. Responses of a random national sample of school counselors (n ¼ 236, 59% return rate) indicate that approximately half expressed concerns related to this type of service. The study summarizes school counselors' concerns, providing an initial understanding for this aspect of school-based crisis intervention. Specific topics of concern most frequently mentioned were school violence and suicide. Particular attention and sensitivity must be focused on addressing these specific topics in crisis plans, taking into account the unique needs of the individual, family, and community.

Strengthening Cultural Sensitivity in Children’s Disaster Mental Health Services

“…In addition to top-down guidelines offered by the US DOE and states' crisis planning guidelines, practitioners have also offered suggestions to increase cultural sensitivity in school-based crisis intervention (Armstrong, 1991;Canada et al, 2007;Kemple et al, 2006). Their information emphasized specific areas they considered critical in meeting the needs of students from diverse backgrounds.…”

“…To date, few research studies have investigated cultural sensitivity in school-based crisis intervention. Two studies (Canada et al, 2007;Kemple et al, 2006) are summarized in the following section.…”

“…A group of school counsellors, randomly selected from membership of the American School Counselor Association (n = 236; Canada et al, 2007) and school psychologists, randomly selected from a roster of Nationally Certified School Psychologists (n = 275; Kemple et al, 2006), responded to the following question: What issues in the area of crisis intervention most concern you when working with students of diverse backgrounds? Almost half of participants expressed concerns, most frequently mentioning crisis topics involving school violence, suicide and death.…”

Assessing Cultural Competency in School Crisis Plans

“…Schools must also engage in two primary activities. One is to conduct a needs assessment with families from diverse backgrounds, gathering information on how to align crisis intervention with the needs of those served (Canada et al, 2007;Kemple et al, 2006). Those involved in developing crisis plans must ask students and families for their input.…”

Improving School Psychologists’ Knowledge and Confidence Pertinent to Suicide Prevention Through Professional Development

“…Such knowledge is necessary, given the elevated rate of suicide attempts among many diverse student groups (e.g., Hispanic youth, Native American youth, students who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual; CDC, 2006;Silenzio, Pena, Duberstein, Cerel, & Knox, 2007) and the increasing diversity of students in the public education system (Espelage, Aragon, Birkett, & Koenig, 2008;Snyder & Dillow, 2010). Taken together, preliminary studies of school-based mental health professionals suggests a need for additional training to increase knowledge and confidence regarding youth suicide and related professional activities, including the provision of suicide services to students of diverse backgrounds (Canada et al, 2007;Debski et al, 2007).…”