General Article Talking about suicide and self-harm in schools can save lives

Topic Selected: Self-harm and Suicide
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As a community we need proactive, positive strategies to reduce youth self-harm and suicide. Shutterstock

Sarah Stanford, Macquarie University

Suicide and self-harm remain taboo topics in schools, despite the fact youth suicide has reached a ten year high.

Recent statistics show around eight children and young people die by suicide each week in Australia. Around one in ten self-harm during their teenage years. This loss of life means that the topic is too important not to talk about, but parents and teachers are often concerned that talking about suicide or self-harm may put ideas in young, impressionable minds.


Further reading: Australian teens doing well, but some still at high risk of suicide and self-harm.


Teachers and parents are often concerned about putting ideas in students’ heads. They worry talking about it more will lead students to swap strategies and compare wounds, and whether there are resources to support additional disclosures.

The World Suicide Prevention Day ...

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