TALKBACK:Strong links with support services are required

T HE CALL which every school principal or guidance counsellor dreads is when news emerges that a pupil has taken their own life.

Sadly, such calls are a daily occurrence in today’s Ireland, as Carl O’Brien’s “Stories of Suicide” series in this newspaper has so vividly illustrated.

Dealing with the consequences of suicide within a school is an extremely delicate matter. There are so many constituencies to consider: the immediate family of the deceased; their friends who will be deeply traumatised by the event; and members of the wider school community. Many may not have had any particular relationship with the deceased, but all are in some way affected by the tragedy.

It is incumbent on all schools to have a critical incident response plan in place, so that everyone knows their role and responsibilities if a suicide occurs.

Central to a school’s response must be the need to respect the wishes of the family of the deceased.

The school must provide immediate and long-term support to those who are affected by the death. It should acknowledge the death in a respectful and dignified manner within the school, without in any way dignifying the act of suicide itself.

The task of informing students about the suicide of a fellow pupil is one that requires deep sensitivity to the emotional and psychological needs of students.

The Irish Association of Suicidology, founded by Dr John Connolly in response to concerns about the rising suicide rates in Ireland, is a huge support to principals and guidance counsellors in planning their response to a school suicide.

President Mary McAleese has also made a valuable contribution, acting as a facilitator to bring together and help coordinate the work of all those groups working to prevent further suicides.

With the assistance of the Department of Education, there are now good support structures in place for guidance counsellors to address suicides by young people – and to help identify and support vulnerable students, who may be manifesting self-destructive behaviour.

Every guidance counsellor working in our schools has professional supervision and support in their counselling work, which is hugely beneficial in helping them to identify and support at-risk children.

Much work has also taken place to develop links between our schools and the medical support services available within our health services, although a great deal more could be done to strengthen these links.

If I could give one message to parents who may be anxious about a distressed child, it is to share their concern with their school and family doctor.

The greatest gift we can, of course, give any of our children is to ensure that we regularly set time aside.

We must find the time to put our own daily preoccupations to one side. And really listen to your child’s response when we ask “How are you doing?”

Brian Mooney is a former president of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors