NCJ Number
203456
Journal
Youth Studies Australia Volume: 22 Issue: 3 Dated: September 2003 Pages: 32-35
Editor(s)
Sheila Allison
Date Published
September 2003
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the problematic aspects of some youth suicide prevention programs operating in schools and recommends the implementation of safeguards to ensure that mental health programs are safe, effective, and evidence-based.
Abstract
Suicide is the second most common cause of death among young men in the Western world and has a devastating impact on school communities. Recent years have seen schools electing to directly address the suicide issue by inviting outside community-based groups to run programs with students, many of which lack an evidence base for such programs, thereby potentially increasing the level of risk for some students. In Australia, many researchers, clinicians, and government departments have expressed their concerns about the lack of demonstrated safety and effectiveness of youth suicide prevention programs delivered by some community-based organizations. Some groups have been known to actively foster perceptions that are inaccurate or distortions of the facts. Prevention of youth suicide is something all schools can contribute to by promoting good mental health through evidence-based programs, by supporting young people, by responding to suicidal young people in a helpful way, and by being better informed about youth suicide. The New Zealand Government is said to be leading the world in attacking this issues and has commissioned a report to review the research and assess three community-based programs. However, in Australia, there has been little direction from State departments of education or health, thereby leaving schools alone to decide for themselves which programs are suitable or appropriate for their students. Schools need to seek reassurance from government agencies and academic departments that the programs being offered are evidence-based, fit with the curriculum and standards framework, and have been independently evaluated by reputable researchers. Instead of schools directly addressing the issue of youth suicide by bringing in educational programs with no evidence base, they need to familiarize themselves with the National Mental Health Strategy and other national projects in mental health promotion and suicide. References