Suicide Prevention in Schools (IN: The International Handbook of Suicide and Attempted Suicide, edited by K Hawton & K van Heeringen)

This chapter reviews school-based suicide prevention programmes. Goals of these programmes are usually to promote help-seeking behaviour, to encourage & help students identify others at risk for suicide, & to counteract permissive & positive attitudes about suicide that are common among youth. There is no evidence these goals can be met by existing programmes. There is some limited evidence of potentially harmful effects. Psycho-educational programmes, direct case-finding or screening programs, preventive/therapeutic interventions & postvention are discussed. (77 refs.)