4.3 WHEN THE SCHOOL THREAT IS “SERIOUS AND SCARY”: HOW TO ASSESS IT AND WHAT TO DO

Abstract

Child and adolescent psychiatrists are increasingly being asked to perform extremely challenging school threat assessments. When faced with potentially high-risk cases, the process can be stressful and overwhelming. Beyond obtaining an extensive history and performing the student interview, the clinician faces other issues, including the intricacies of interfacing with parents, law enforcement, and school administrators. The objective of this presentation is to help attendees address the clinical challenges involved in performing threat assessments.