The video for this section details behavioral signs that are linked to escalating behavior and could result in violence. Once you know them, you will need to know what to do when you see these warning signs. When you, a colleague, or a student notice and report concerning behavior to an administrator, you need to trust that your concern will be taken seriously and investigated. Knowing that your school has a threat assessment team in place is critical.

Threat assessment teams have become the gold standard for assessing and intervening in threats of violence. The teams are multidisciplinary and receive thorough training in research, tools, procedures, challenges, group dynamics, and threat management. They review and assess concerns and keep documentation so all of the pieces of the puzzle can be tracked, and a complete picture of the level of threat posed by an individual can be determined.

Your team will either intervene immediately or monitor a concerning individual over time, so any additional behavior, threats, or escalation can be tracked. The team will also depend on you to continue to keep them abreast of concerning behavior or words that you might detect as you go about your work.

Threat assessment helps us identify concerning behavior in individuals. It also points us in the direction we need to go to help individuals who are struggling. Whether we identify a need for support, connection, bullying intervention, or mental health treatment, what's important is that we pay attention, connect the dots, and assist people so they can move forward with a sense of hope and with alternatives to acting with violence.