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Suicide prevention in schools
You’re already doing so much to help the mental health of the young people in your care. Suicide prevention is an extension of your day-to-day awareness of how your students are getting on with school and life.
You can play a key role in overall suicide prevention by noticing concerning changes in a student’s behaviour and emotions. Remember, it’s vital that you follow your school’s policies and procedures if you have concerns about a young person.
You may feel uncomfortable thinking about suicide, and you’re not alone. Know that the care you show your young people is already a huge protective factor. Your efforts in understanding youth suicide may help reduce the likelihood of future tragedy.
A suicide in the school community can deeply impact individuals, the school and the wider community. You may feel deeply affected yourself by such an event. It’s important to take care of your own wellbeing and seek assistance when you need it.
It’s important to have a whole-school approach to mental health and wellbeing that promotes protective factors for all students. This is the core of any school-based suicide prevention and early intervention strategy. It requires a coordinated approach where everyone plays an important role.
As an educator, you can enhance protective factors through the care you show your students. You’re also best placed to identify and act on concerns you might have about a young person’s wellbeing. Read more in An educator’s role in suicide prevention.
Your leadership team is responsible for establishing policies and procedures and training for staff. This includes referral pathways through the school and to external support agencies. Leaders are also responsible for responding to immediate concerns in relation to individual students, leading suicide prevention activities and connecting with families, carers and community. Read more in The role of leadership in suicide prevention.
A coordinated approach
Be You promotes a whole-school approach to mental health and wellbeing, as a part of youth suicide prevention. These whole-school approaches include promotion, prevention and early intervention for positive mental health.
Mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention
A whole-school approach, such as Be You, focuses on promoting positive mental health, preventing mental health issues and early intervention for students experiencing difficulties. This approach can make a significant contribution to the school’s suicide prevention efforts.
Any whole-school approach to mental health and wellbeing needs to include an understanding of:
- suicidal behaviour
- ways of preventing suicide
- the warning signs to look out for
- how to approach and respond when concerned.
It's important to understand suicide risk factors and potential warning signs. With this understanding, school staff can be alert and responsive at the earliest possible stage.
Having clear support pathways and connections to healthcare professionals can help greatly when students are seeking help. A range of factors can have an impact on help-seeking behaviour. It's useful to seek out external agencies and supports that are respectful of diversity and can support young people with specific needs. Where access to supports is limited, understanding the range of online and phone supports available can be useful.
How can I find out more about developing a whole-school approach?
The Be You Mentally Healthy Communities domain explores promoting a positive school culture that encourages inclusion, respectful relationships and values diversity. This may lead to a reduction in risk factors and increased protective factors for young people. The Be You Planning for Implementation modules also provide more detailed information about a whole-school approach.
How can resilience help?
A young person’s ability to manage change and deal with stressful circumstances is a protective factor against mental health issues. It may also decrease risk of suicide. The Be You Learning Resilience domain explores how to intentionally teach social and emotional learning skills and foster resilience in schools.
How can my school develop support pathways?
A whole-school approach includes connection with community support services and health professionals. The Be You Early Support domain explores the importance of noticing early signs, having sensitive conversations and providing appropriate and timely support.
In particular, the Provide module can help you understand how your school can build connections with health services.