Prevention and Intervention
At McKinney Boyd High School, we are committed to fostering our students by maintaining a healthy learning environment. This includes the prevention and intervention of bullying, suicide, violence, and abuse. Learn more about what counselors do to resolve these issues.
IMPACT counseling – In the event of a crisis, please learn more about our IMPACT counselors and how we respond to your crises by visiting the ‘Crisis Response’ tab.
Bullying
It is never okay to be bullied anywhere. We want our students to feel safe and included. We have many ways of both preventing and intervening in bullying situations.
- Students may report bullying by telling any trusted adult, especially their parents and their teachers. Our teachers are required to report instances of bullying.
- Students and/or parents may visit with a counselor to seek comfort and resolution to their bullying.
- If students’ lives are in danger, they may submit a tip411 tip. The McKinney Police Department will then take appropriate steps to ensure safety.
Students are taught from elementary school to avoid bullying. Unfortunately, not everybody follows these rules in high school. Our district-required health courses will cover how:
- bullying hurts others
- to stop bullying if you are the one being bullied
- to stop bullying if you are a bystander (remember, there is always the anonymous tip411 system)
- to make thoughtful actions that prevent bullying
Cyberbullying, or bullying through the internet, is neither tolerated nor any lesser than in-person bullying; in fact, cyberbullying is usually stronger and more relentless. If you are a victim of cyberbullying, please talk to our counselors.
Signs of Bullying
When these three criteria are met (“RIP”), bullying is occuring.
- Repetitive — One isolated incident may not be considered bullying, but continual repetition of harmful actions constitute bullying.
- Intentional — Accidental incidents usually are not emotionally harmful; contrastingly, intentional and purposeful actions that harm others are considered bullying.
- Over-Powering — A bully will have more power than the victim and will use this power to their advantage. They do this in order to marginalize and dismiss the victim, resulting in bullying.
Suicide
If you need someone to talk to or feel like you want to commit suicide, there is help. Call (800) 273-TALK immediately. This line is available 24/7!
We always want our students to feel that they belong and that they are important. If you feel suicidal and/or are severely depressed and/or need to talk with someone, our counselors are there for you.
As most teen suicides are caused by depression, to help prevent suicide, look for signs of depression that others may be exhibiting.
Signs
Verbal cues
Both direct and indirect messages may represent suicidal thought. Direct messages include statements such as “I am going to commit suicide,” or “I don’t want to live anymore.” Indirect messages include statements such as “Life isn’t worth living,” “I want to go to sleep and never wake up,” “Soon it won’t matter anymore,” and “Do you think suicide is wrong?” Although indirect messages may seem more subtle, they should be treated as seriously as direct messages.
Behavioral cues
Each of the following behaviors by itself may not signal suicidal thinking or depression, but if several are present in conjunction, there could be cause for serious concern.
- Depression, moodiness, sadness, or lack of energy
- Talking directly or indirectly about dying or committing suicide
- Concerning posts on social media
- Changes in sleeping habits (too much, too little)
- Changes in eating habits (sudden weight gain, weight loss)
- Discouragement about the future, self-criticism
- Recent lack of concern about physical appearance, hygiene
- Withdrawal from social contacts or communication difficulty
- Giving away prized possessions
- Drop in school grades or work performance
- Making final arrangements, writing a will
- Taking unusual risks
- Increased drug or alcohol use
- Preoccupation with death through poetry and/or artwork
- Previous suicide attempts
Situational cues
The following events frequently lead to crisis. For some people, internal and external resources are present in sufficient amounts to cope. For others, intense feelings coupled with a lack of external resources result in serious emotional crisis.
- End of a serious relationship
- Death of a loved one
- Divorce
- Loss of a job
- Financial difficulties
- Moving to a new location
- Isolation
Resources
Teen Dating Warning Signs
If at any time your date begins to do any of the following: make threats to you, talks to or texts you through phone or social media nonstop, puts you down, frequently has mood swings, yells or screams or humiliates you, threatens or coercively forces you to do something for them, or pressures you pressures you in any way, then you may be in an unhealthy relationship.
Abuse
If you are being abused at home or know somebody who is being abused:
- If a child is in immediate danger, call 911 or your local police first.
- Then call the Texas Abuse Hotline at 1 (800) 252-5400 to make a report. The Texas Abuse Hotline is open 24/7/365. (Report via the online reporting system using this link for non-urgent situations only. A non-urgent situation means that intervention is not needed within 24 hours.)