Mental health conditions can affect many regardless of age, gender or background and statistics show that suicide is often a result of an untreated mental health condition. Although September is highlighted for being Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, MCISD continues to focus their efforts on mental health year round. The district currently has a total of four Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC’s) that service the district.
“Our daily goal as therapists for MCISD is to educate and support every student in prevention, intervention, and support during and after a crisis event,” states Maricela Ponce, LPC. “As a department, we make our greatest forth effort in providing the best quality research base therapeutic techniques and strategies to provide guidance in managing, minimizing, and eventually terminating suicidal ideation and behavior.”
LPC’s provide professional therapeutic services to individuals and groups that may be affected by associated distresses that interfere with mental health. This year’s COVID-19 virus has taken a toll on many and the Student Services & Guidance and Counseling department has been reaching out personally to MCISD staff affected by this through social-emotional support, along with counseling services.
Licensed Professional Counselors are also providing training and presentations these past two weeks for teachers and school counselors on the following topics such as Suicide Prevention & Intervention, How to Work through Grief/Trauma, Coping through the Age of COVID, and Strategies & Techniques staff can implement in their daily lives to manage/minimize stress, anxiety, depression and physical while working from home.
There are warning signs one can look for in order to provide individuals with assistance and information that can help. The following are some of the warning signs:
- Negative view of self
- A sense of hopelessness or no hope for the future
- Isolation or feeling alone
- Aggressive and irritability
- Possessing lethal means
- Feeling like a burden to others
- Drastic change in mood and behavior
- Frequently talking about death
- Self harm like cutting behaviors
- Engaging in risky behaviors
- Making funeral arrangements
- Giving things away
- Substance abuse
- Making suicide threats
- Sleeping too much
For more information on suicide prevention please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1800-SUICIDE (784-2433), RGV Crisis Hot Line 1-877-289-7199 or Mission CISD LPC’s at (956) 323-5578.