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Mass Violence and Suicide Resources

what is the International association of care and threat teams (Interactt)?

• Dr. Brian Van Brunt founded InterACTT in effort to offer comprehensive tools geared toward threat assessment and case management.Ìý Joining him as a member of the InterACTT advisory board is the center's Dr. Lisa Pescara-Kovach.Ìý InterACTT is comprised of a group of threat assessment, case management, counseling, and legal experts who came together to offer educational resources and trainings for K-12 school districts, workplaces, and colleges/universities.Ìý There are a number of free resources and training options available.Ìý If you are a school, workplace or hospital administrator, or are responsible for your agency's health and safety plan, visit .ÌýÌý

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What is Behavioral Threat Assessment and Why is it Important?

• Behavioral threat assessment is NOT profiling. Rather, it is best practice through applying what we know from research conducted by the FBI, Secret Service, USDOE, and other experts in effort to prevent incidents of targeted violence.ÌýMany school shootersÌýpossess similar social, school, family, and personality dynamicsÌýwhile workplace shooters possess some of the same traits in addition to a different set of precipitating factors.ÌýRelevant questions take all four areas into account.ÌýWe cannotÌýprevent every mass shooting through threat assessment, butÌýwe have to start here. Key questions examine the individual’sÌýgoals; possible target(s); talk/posting about shooting others;Ìýinterest in previous shooters; fantasizing, planning, or preparing;Ìýhopelessness and, of course, bullying and alienation.
• In a threat assessment plan I created for the Oregon CityÌýSchool District in Oregon, OH, there is one counselor and oneÌýschool resource officer in each building assigned to assist theÌýconcerned student, teacher, or staff member in completingÌýthe questionnaire. Information is then brought to a committee,Ìýwhich consists of counselors, SROs, an outside mental healthÌýrepresentative, a principal, and other key individuals. Together,Ìýthey assess the information and determine if there is no threat,Ìýor a low, medium, high, or imminent threat. Too often we workÌýin ‘silos’ in fear of FERPA or HIPAA. However, Sandy Hook wasÌýa game changer. In January 2013, the Department of HealthÌýand Human Services released a statement regarding HIPAA.ÌýSpecifically, mental health providers were encouraged to shareÌýinformation about an individual’s mental health if they feels theÌýindividual poses a serious threat to the health or safety of others.

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ÌýSUICIDAL? CALL YOUR NEAREST 9-1-1 OR THE NATIONAL SUICIDE HOTLINE (800)-273-TALK (8255)

• The University of Toledo Center for Education in Targeted Violence and Suicide supports the perspective that the optimal approach to addressing suicide is through a holistic approach. Specifically, we are dedicated to prevention, intervention, response and recovery. Prevention involves best practice in educating students, faculty, and staff on the warning signs that an individual is at risk of suicide. Intervention involves the response to the at-risk individual. Once identified as at-risk, members of the center ensure confidentiality and work with the individual and his/her family in effort to lessen the likelihood of suicide. In cases in which a suicide occurs at a school, university, or workplace, the members are available to guide the administration through the response. Proper response is of the utmost importance, as it lessens the likelihood of confusion and possible cluster suicides. Also part of the response process is working with the district, university, or workplace in helping lessen the psychological and productivity impact.

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LOCAL SUICIDE RESOURCES

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*For a list of trained suicide speakers, contactÌýlisa.kovach@utoledo.eduÌý

Prevention and Intervention RESOURCES

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Behavioral Threat Assessment -ÌýK through 12, college/university, workplace
Lisa Pescara-Kovach, Ph.D.
Director, Center for Education in Targeted Violence and Suicide
lisa.kovach@utoledo.edu
419.530.2048

active response RESOURCES

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Recovery

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Helpful Apps for your iphone or android device

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