Teachers must talk to students about suicide, charity boss warns

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Alexandra Richards8 February 2018

Teachers should to be more “open” and prepared to talk to students about suicide, a charity boss has warned.

Ged Flynn, chief executive of suicide prevention group Papyrus, said school staff should not feel embarrassed or scared to ask children about their mental health if they are concerned about their well-being.

His advice comes as part of a drive to cut self-harm and depression among young people.

Latest figures from the charity show children as young as nine are seeking help with suicidal thoughts.

Up to 40 per cent of 11-18-year-olds contacting the charity's HOPELineUK service report cyber-bullying.

Ged Flynn is the chief executive of suicide prevention charity Papyrus
PA

Mr Flynn said teachers should be "open" rather than "blunt", but said it was important for adults to "join the conversation" because children "will already be talking about it".

In an interview with the Press Association, Mr Flynn said: "Children may not know the word 'suicide', so I'm not frightening teachers into doing an assembly on suicide.

"But I am saying don't be frightened of using that word.

"If you're worried about a young person, the reality is they're already talking about it in their peer group. Get over yourselves, talk about it.

"They're more likely to engage with you when they are struggling."

Mr Flynn said there was a need for sensitivity, and to use age-appropriate language when talking to young children who may not fully understand the permanence of death.

But he said it was crucial to shatter the taboo of suicide by engaging with children about it.

"The burden on schools is clear if we want them to be teaching, social working and counselling. It's a tall order.

"But I'm not asking teachers to take on an extra burden, I'm saying acknowledge what good stuff you're already doing - acknowledge that you're already engaging readily as the PE teacher with the young lad who aspires to be the Welsh rugby team captain, or the England football team manager.

"You're already doing great rapport-building with him. If he changes his behaviour, ask him: this is not like you, are you thinking about suicide?

"If he's not, he knows that if he is he might come to you. If he is, he will readily say: Yes I am can we talk about it?"

Asked whether he envisaged some reluctance from parents about the prospect of discussing suicide among young children, Mr Flynn said: "My message to those parents is: wouldn't you prefer that we prepare your child that he or she may be a risk to themselves than to have a police officer knock on your door and say: 'I'm really sorry...'?"

To contact the Papyrus HOPELineUK telephone 0800 068 4141 text 07786 209 697 or email pat@papyrus-uk.org

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