Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 May 2017
351. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Education and Skills if schools are advertising outside resources for suicide prevention such as an application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19980/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnsuring the mental and emotional wellbeing of students is a major priority of mine as Minister. My Department adopts a holistic and integrated approach to supporting the work of schools in promoting positive mental health and to supporting those with the broad range of problems, behavioural emotional and social. The processes span the curriculum in schools, whole-school ethos, quality of teaching, learning and assessment, student support and pastoral care and the provision of professional development for teachers. It also involves other supports such as educational psychological services and guidance and counselling services, and the interface with other agencies, both nationally and locally. Schools also engage in a wide range of sport and cultural co-curricular activities which provide an important opportunity for students to experience success and personal growth.
Wellbeing Guidelines for Post-Primary (2013) and Primary Schools (2015) have been developed by my Department in collaboration with the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive. The guidelines are informed by consultation with key Education and Health partners and by the findings of research. They provide practical guidance to schools on how they can promote mental health and wellbeing in an integrated school-wide way and they also provide evidence-based advice on how to support young people who may be at risk of suicidal behaviour.
The Guidelines build on the significant work already taking place in schools, including through the Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) curriculum, the whole-school guidance plan, the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) continuum of support model and the HSE , Health Promoting Schools process. Information is also provided on how to access support from the SPHE Support Service and other external agencies and support services. In addition it is planned to introduce Wellbeing Guidelines for the Junior Cycle Programme in September 2017. This will include a focus on mental health promotion. Professional development is currently being provided for schools in anticipation of this.
A range of external resources and initiatives are available to assist schools, among others, in supporting various aspects of a positive mental health process or relating to suicide prevention and crisis intervention such as the example instanced by the Deputy in his question. It is a matter for schools to determine which of these resources they choose to access. My Department's advice is that schools in the first instance should implement the guideline documents effectively and when considering collaborating with external agencies in doing work in the area of mental health promotion, schools should be cognisant of my Department’s Circular 0023/2010 which provides advice on best practice for Social Personal and Health Education.
I trust this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
