Every day, Howard Center’s School Services professionals enable students to succeed in public school by helping to remove social, emotional, or behavioral 
challenges that interfere with learning. The program—just one of Howard Center’s array of educational services and supports—contracts with all 42 public schools in eight Chittenden County school districts. These clinicians serve as a bridge between the school and family, while providing individual and group in-school counseling, care management, family engagement, home visits and, when necessary, helping families access basic needs, such as food and housing resources.
A crucial component of the School Services program is suicide prevention and postvention services. When a local school district wanted to develop procedures to address suicide prevention, they turned to Howard Center. Annalisa MacDonald, Assistant Director of Howard Center’s School Services, says, “We have different and shared expertise, so it makes sense for us to partner with schools with the common goal of providing best care for students.” Goals include training faculty in suicide prevention, using an evidenced-based practice for screening a student at risk, and having school leadership at the table. The benefits of the school partnership include cross-disciplinary expertise and collaboration to support students, access to in-school mental health services (often difficult for many students to access), access to mental health consultation for all students, staff training opportunities, and reduction of stigma related to mental health. The collaboration has been effective, and one school partner adds, “I view Howard Center and its clinicians as an invaluable resource to our school and community as we work to strengthen students’ mental health and overall well-being.”
MacDonald says that clinicians may be asked to do a school training when mental health needs intensify. But the initiative is larger than that says MacDonald. “We’re starting to notice the need for consistency across schools in terms of addressing suicide concerns, especially post-pandemic,” In fact, among 10- to18-year-olds, suicide is the second leading cause of death nationally.
In recent years, MacDonald and other Howard Center staff have developed a suicide prevention initiative to ensure consistency within each school district. Key recommendations include a designated suicide prevention coordinator, a cross-disciplinary suicide prevention committee with recommendations for who should be included, protocols for screening students at risk of suicide, responses to suicide attempts on school grounds that require medical attention, and postvention responses. To date, three Chittenden County districts have created a suicide-prevention committee. Additional districts have incorporated other features of the prevention initiative.
Postvention services are provided in response to a suicide death, whether on school grounds or elsewhere. School Services takes the lead when it comes to postvention, by providing consultation to school teams, including group and individual counseling, often within the next day. Postvention teams also help schools identify available crisis resources, craft different age-appropriate messages, and help to determine when they should transition back to a routine. MacDonald adds that postvention also mitigates the risk of contagion—meaning preventing another student attempting suicide.
MacDonald’s commitment to suicide prevention and postvention is evident in her participation in several area-wide initiatives, and she and Howard Center staff have contributed recommendations to a statewide model for suicide prevention.
MacDonald says, “I have sat with many families and communities after a child has died by suicide, and these experiences fuel my passion for prevention. If our collaborative efforts with schools prevent one additional suicide, it is worth it.” She adds, “Suicide is a national and local emergency, and we are here to support kids, teachers, school personnel, and families to identify signs, access help, and prevent future deaths by suicide.”
Related Programs and Resources at Howard Center
Howard Center offers a range of services that support children, youth, families, and schools. The programs below may be helpful for students, caregivers, and educators seeking additional support.
Program-Level Supports
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Children and Youth Services – Mental health and developmental services for children and teens, including counseling and specialized programs.
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Mental Health Services – Outpatient counseling and psychiatric services for children, youth, and families.
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Suicide Prevention Resources – Education, training, and community resources focused on prevention, intervention, and postvention.
To learn more about these programs or find the right service, visit all programs or contact Howard Center for assistance.