NCJ Number
139018
Date Published
1992
Length
21 pages
Annotation
Ways in which schools can assume a constructive and positive role in the identification, intervention, and prevention of adolescent suicide and depression have been considered by many professionals in the field.
Abstract
The responsibility of schools in this regard take on practical, educational, and moral overtones. At the prevention level, many schools have trained staff to identify and intervene with high-risk students, incorporated educational programs which teach relevant skills, included the issues of death and grief in school curricula, conducted parent awareness groups, cooperated with other community agencies, and developed school policies. The four major categories of school personnel involved in suicide prevention efforts include administrators, teachers, psychologists and counselors, and nurses. In Western Australia, a report prepared by the Youth Suicide Working Party for the Minister of Health included several recommendations related to schools. As a result, the position of Coordinator of Suicide Prevention in Education was created and a strategic teaching plan developed. The plan involved these steps: developing a resource package for student services personnel, developing a workshop, training key student services personnel, developing a teacher training video, training other levels of school personnel, overseeing and evaluating the training and information dissemination process, and communicating with the Youth Suicide Steering Committee. 32 references