EP 63 | I Hear You Say
September 30, 2026
In this episode of I Hear You Say, recorded live at the ASCA Annual Conference in New Orleans, hosts Jill Cook and Janae Douglas welcome Angela Avery, a longtime school counselor and leader at Sanford Middle School in Southern Maine, adjunct faculty member at the University of Southern Maine, and 2016 Maine School Counselor of the Year. Avery discusses why suicide prevention should extend beyond crisis response, with school counselors taking a proactive role in strengthening protective factors such as connection, belonging, coping skills, help-seeking, and bullying prevention. The conversation explores how tiered supports can help counselors recognize early warning signs, including isolation, bullying, truancy, and a lack of meaningful connections with peers or trusted adults. Avery also addresses the importance of talking openly about suicide and shares practical strategies counselors can use throughout the school year, from teaching coping skills and helping students identify trusted adults to consistently promoting the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, particularly during times of transition.
Crisis/Trauma/Grief/Loss ASCA On-Site Training
