The Need For and Acceptance of a Suicide Postvention Support Service for Australian Secondary Schools. Issue 1 (17th October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rickwood, Debra; Telford, Nic; Kennedy, Vanessa; Bailey, Eleanor; Robinson, Jo
• Is Part Of: Journal of psychologists and counsellors in schools. Volume 28:Issue 1(2018)
• Page Start: 55
• Page End: 65
• Publication Date: 2017-10-17
• Subjects: suicide, -- postvention, -- schools, -- counsellors, -- evaluation; Educational counseling -- Australia -- Periodicals; Educational counseling -- Periodicals; Child psychology -- Periodicals; School children -- Psychology -- Periodicals; 155.42405
• DOI: 10.1017/jgc.2017.10
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2055-6365

Abstract

Abstract : Suicide-related behaviours are relatively common among school-aged young people, and schools are an appropriate setting for activities that aim to prevent and assist recovery after suicide. headspace School Support is a specialist service that assists Australian secondary schools to be prepared for and recover from suicide. Through the responses of secondary school personnel to two surveys, this study explored awareness of and need for such services ( n = 214), and satisfaction with and impacts of the service ( n = 359). Findings indicate that most schools are aware of headspace School Support and regard specialised suicide support as needed. Most respondents indicated that the service increased their perceived knowledge, skills, and capacity in managing suicide issues, and reported satisfaction was high. Continued availability of suicide support to secondary schools is warranted.