Self-Harm and Attempted Suicide Response

Overview

This guidance is for all school staff (educators), including teachers, school leadership and wellbeing staff. The purpose of the guidance is to support and guide school staff to prevent, recognise and respond to distress, including self-harm and risk of suicide, in students.

The guidance aims to:

• guide the school’s response following all disclosures, evidence and incidents of self-harm in students, regardless of the intent or reason, including:
  • addressing the student’s immediate needs and supporting their safety
  • ensuring the safety of other students and staff
  • providing timely and accurate information to parents/carers and educators
  • arranging for referral if appropriate
  • ensuring ongoing monitoring and support for students
  • supporting staff wellbeing
• build awareness of mental health and wellbeing outcomes
• build capability in recognising signs of distress
• outline roles and responsibilities of different members of staff within schools.

The guidance is not:

• suggesting that it is the role of educators to determine the intent of self-harm
• a practice manual about the interventions and support offered to students engaging in self-harm
• guidelines for clinical intervention or assessment
• a standalone resource for supporting students in emotional distress and displaying mental health vulnerabilities.

Preventing and responding to distress in primary school students: A guide for addressing self-harm, including suicidal behaviours (PDF) (Primary school guidelines) and Responding to self-harm, including suicide attempts, in students: a guide to assist secondary schools (PDF) (Secondary school guidelines) were developed in partnership with headspace. They provide guidance to assist schools in responding to disclosures, evidence of and incidents of self-harm in students, regardless of the intent or reason.

These guides are intended be read in addition to existing departmental policies, resources and mental health and wellbeing initiatives including this policy and the Managing and Reporting School Incidents (Including Emergencies) policy.