Preventing and Responding to Suicide
St Joseph's School aims to provide a physically and emotionally safe place for students, in keeping with the requirements of the Education and Training Act 2020.
If there is a suicide concern (disclosed or identified), we follow the procedures below, as well as guidance in the Ministry of Education’s resource kit for schools (see Resources below) to ensure the student is supported. When an incident happens, there may not be time to plan a response. As such, all staff are made aware of these procedures as part of their staff orientation and/or child protection training. We may also activate our managing traumatic incidents plan to guide our response.
Preventing suicide
Our whole-school wellbeing approach considers suicide prevention strategies. Part of this responsibility involves:
- mental health education
- being aware of common
warning signs of suicide Warning signs of suicide may include:
- unexpected changes in academic performance (e.g. failure to complete assessments and abrupt changes in attendance)
- ideas and themes of depression, death, and suicide (e.g. written work, artwork, conversations)
- sudden changes in mood (e.g. withdrawal, anger, tearfulness)
- grief about a significant loss (e.g. recent relationship breakdown or bereavement)
- withdrawal from relationships (e.g. loss of interest in relationships or other social activities)
- physical symptoms with emotional cause (e.g. self-harming or poor personal hygiene)
- high-risk behaviour (e.g. harmful use of alcohol and/or drugs)
Ministry of Education: Preventing and responding to suicide - Resource kit for schools 
- talking to students about available support services for wellbeing
- guiding students to cope effectively with challenging situations and emotions, and promoting resilience.
We are aware of the potential risk factors for suicidal behaviour, such as bullying, discrimination, trauma, isolation, and challenging life experiences. We take all reasonable actions to reduce risk factors at our school and focus on promoting protective factors, such as creating an inclusive school culture that values wellbeing and support, and fostering healthy student-teacher relationships.
Responding to concerns about suicide risk
We recognise that students may express suicidal ideation (suicidal thoughts) with or without having a plan to commit suicide. If suicide is a risk, staff are permitted to breach confidentiality to ensure student safety, particularly in an emergency.
Privacy refers to the right to have personal information protected. The Privacy Act 2020 outlines how personal information must be collected, stored, used, shared, and disposed. For more information, see Privacy Policy.
Confidentiality refers to the responsibility to ensure personal information is kept secret. Confidential information may be shared if it is in the best interests of the student. See Sharing Student Personal Information with External Agencies.
School response
Staff may notice warning signs of suicide or students may disclose that they are feeling suicidal to a staff member. If this happens, staff:
- listen to students without judgement and let them know they are willing to help
- offer reassurance and let them know they are not in trouble, but do not make any promises or commitments that cannot be kept
- acknowledge student feelings/emotions and let the student know they are not alone
- explain the limits of confidentiality and that relevant staff must be informed to establish support for the student
Privacy refers to the right to have personal information protected. The Privacy Act 2020 outlines how personal information must be collected, stored, used, shared, and disposed. For more information, see Privacy Policy.
Confidentiality refers to the responsibility to ensure personal information is kept secret. Confidential information may be shared if it is in the best interests of the student. See Sharing Student Personal Information with External Agencies.
- discuss their concerns with the designated person (at St Joseph's School this person is the principal), even if uncertain of the seriousness of the risk.
If there is no imminent threat of suicide but the student is at risk, we work collaboratively with parents/caregivers and support services, as appropriate, to develop a safety plan and supports for the student. Students who may be at risk of suicide should be assessed by trained professionals.
Teachers are not counsellors, psychologists, or mental health specialists. Trained counsellors or other mental health professional can carry out assessments and screen for suicidal risk. Teachers are not responsible for examining the degree of risk or deciding the level or form of intervention needed.
Mental health education: A guide for teachers, leaders, and school boards (Tāhūrangi – New Zealand Curriculum)
Responding to the imminent threat of suicide
If there is a concern that a suicide attempt may be made, we act as follows.
- Ensure the student is not left alone.
- Request further assistance and ensure the safety of other students.
- Inform the designated person (at St Joseph's School, this person is the principal), and contact parents/caregivers, as appropriate. Staff agree on a proposed safety plan, which may include arranging external support and school monitoring and follow up.
- People who are with the student support them until responsibility can be transferred to a parent/caregiver, emergency contact, counsellor/psychologist, or other health professional.
If a student has attempted suicide, or has been hospitalised or removed from the school as at risk of suicide, the school carries out the following actions.
Responding to a death by suicide
A traumatic incident, such as a death by suicide, adversely affects the whole school community. The school responds as appropriate in the immediate aftermath and provides ongoing support for students and staff. This involves implementation of the crisis management plan and contact with the Ministry of Education's Traumatic Incident Team.
Our response is also guided by the Ministry of Education's resource kit for managing a student death by suicide. This process involves the following steps.
- Communicating with the school community and liaising with the bereaved family/whānau. We are aware that discussion about the means of the suicide should be explicitly restricted (Coroners Act 2006). This is to prevent distress to other students, and to prevent information spreading and causing potential copycat behaviour.
- Identifying students who may be at risk, such as friends or classmates, and ensuring they receive appropriate support and/or counselling.
- Encouraging students to seek support if they are feeling concerned or distressed. Staff are also able to seek appropriate support, as required.
- Returning to normal learning routines and using the whole-school wellbeing approach to promote wellbeing and positive coping strategies.
If there is a death by suicide of a past student, a student from another school, a member of the school community, or a family/whānau member, we ensure any affected students receive appropriate support.
Staff and other members of our school community affected by suicide are encouraged to seek support through health professionals and support services. Staff may seek support through senior management and an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) if available.
Recording and reporting
We record information about student wellbeing concerns in our school management system. This includes documenting concerns, conversations, incidents, contact with parents/caregivers or external agencies, advice received, actions taken (including rationale), and any follow-up, support, or monitoring plans.
If a student attempts suicide at school, we follow the appropriate recording and reporting processes. See Recording and Reporting Accidents, Injuries, and Illness.
Recording processes comply with our Privacy and School Records Retention and Disposal procedures.
For staff concerns about colleagues at risk of suicide, see Staff Wellbeing and Safety.
Related policies
Legislation
- Education and Training Act 2020
- Coroners Act 2006
Resources
: Term 4 2022, Term 4 2018
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