Losing a child to suicide is devastating. Schools can help prevent these tragedies

At least 200 children take their own lives each year in the UK. Teachers are in a unique position to support vulnerable pupils, but more awareness is needed

• Harry Biggs-Davison is a former headteacher and trustee of the charity Papyrus
  

The tragedy of losing a child is unimaginable. Losing a child to suicide is worse. Those who have endured such horrors will know the grief is utterly excruciating. It’s no wonder that parents who have lost children in such a way become serious risks of suicide themselves.

My son Patrick was 25 when he took his own life, although I believe his suicidal thoughts began in childhood. It’s distressing to think that an average of four schoolchildren take their own lives every week in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The majority are teenagers, but some are still in primary school – and because the official statistics don’t recognise suicides by children under 10, that number is likely to be even higher.

The 200 children lost to suicide each year could be dozens more. E​ven if it's dozens less it's still a national scandal

Related: More than 60 children a day calling Childline with suicidal thoughts

Related: The bold new fight to eradicate suicide

Continue reading... November 18, 2017 at 01:30PM