Suicide - Youth Suicide Prevention

Issue/Topic:

Youth Suicide Prevention

Definition:

Suicide is the fatal consequence of a person's deliberate self-harm where death is the objective. Successfully managing issues related to suicide in a school is a matter of considering the health of the environment, removing or reducing risk factors, recognising risk and providing support for those identified as being at risk and having a positive crisis management plan in the event of a suicide that touches the school community. Suicide attempts should be treated seriously and all possible support provided for a young person, their family and others requiring support as a consequence.

Key Facts & Information:

The New Zealand rate of youth suicide is unacceptably high and one of the highest in the world. Maori rates of suicide remain higher than non-Maori.

While the number of successful suicides among young people of school age is relatively low there is a large number of hospitalisations due to deliberate self-harm in this age group. Further, the number of actual suicides may mask the existence of serious risk factors leading to later success for this age group.

Suicide prevention requires a long-term approach. That a school has not had to deal directly with suicide does not mean that risk factors are not present.

Under National Administration Guideline 5 (NAG 5) schools are required to provide a safe physical and emotional environment for students. Schools may choose how they do this.

Schools should have a policy on trauma or crisis management. Schools should also take active steps to address problems early through their pastoral network.

Within a school steps should be taken to:

• increase awareness of emotional distress and risk of suicide among members of the school community;
• improve the ability of all staff to identify distressed students and refer them to a counsellor;
• develop mechanisms for referral of at risk young people to health services;
• establish ongoing liaison with available services;
• develop a trauma management plan that will minimise the impact and consequences of any serious suicide attempt or death within the school community; and
• increase the skill of school counsellors in assessing the risk of suicide and implementing appropriate management plans.

Schools should be very wary of any teaching relating directly to suicide or using texts that take suicide as a theme. Some researchers believe that reporting or portraying suicide in the media carries a risk of normalising suicide and can result in a subsequent increase in attempts at self-harm and death. Any programme that deals with suicide should be carried out by people properly trained and sufficiently skilled to work safely in the area.

As part of its regular reviewing of every school the Education Review Office (ERO) checks that the school is meeting its obligations under NAG 5.

The Ministry of Education Group Special Education (GSE) provides services for students with severe behavioural difficulties. GSE also provides a crisis response team. A range of support is provided including specialists such as psychologists, funding for teachers' aides and the provision of Education Support Workers.

The Ministry also funds over 700 Resource Teachers: Learning and Behaviour (RTLBs) who work in schools to assist with students with moderate learning and behaviour difficulties, some of which may be related to grief and loss.

School boards may call on several other government agencies for help and support.

Sources of More Information:

Young People at Risk of Suicide: A Guide for Schools prepared jointly by the National Health Committee and the Ministry (1997).

In Our Hands / Kia Piki Te Ora O Te Taitamariki: New Zealand Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy prepared jointly by the Ministries of Youth Affairs, Health and Maori Development (1998).

Youthline phone 0800 376 633

Suicide Prevention Information New Zealand phone (09) 638 7367 or www.spinz.org.nz or email info@spinz.org.nz [no spam]

Contacts:

Ministry Student Support staff at a local Ministry of Education office or at National office of the ministry on 04 463 8000

Written by:
Dave Burgon