Call to update suicide prevention strategy: study

UNDERSTANDING & BUILDING RESILIENCE IN THE SOUTH WEST PROJECT

A four-year study of suicides by people under the age of 18 in New South Wales, has found little difference between rates of suicide in rural and regional areas and cities.

The report says the suicide prevention strategy must be updated to acknowledge the stress of expectation on students sitting the higher school certification (HSC) is a factor in youth suicide.

But going to war with Iraq and threats by police and the media suggesting we should be alert of something suspicious were not even considered?

Commissioner for Children And Young People Gillian Calvert says another important area to address is to challenge the myth people who say they are going to commit suicide will not actually do it.

"Those young people did go on to commit suicide so we need to challenge that myth in the community and say, if someone is telling you that they are going to commit suicide, take it seriously and seek help," Commissioner Calvert said. "The second aspect of that is that the kids often told other kids but made them promise that they wouldn't tell - it's the one promise that you should break."

Lucky Door Prize

Close your eyes.
What can you see?
Nothing?
So without you there is no beauty.
Then Repeat After Me!
You're nearly as good-looking as I am!
Go on tell your friends..You're nearly as good looking as I am.
Because I am special to me and everyone else is equal to me.

LUCKY!

By Psych Ology 23 Jan 03

THE EGG: War is stress. In an otherwise difficult time children want to see a future. Add the burden of war and that may be too much for them? Teaching children to solve problems instead of solving problems for them is another way to prevent them giving up on life too easily.

Related:

The punishment: Is the 'crime'
The punishment is the crime according to retired chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia Justice Alistair Nicholson. "Smacking a child ought to be seen as assault".

The Seed
Respect, you only get out what you have put in. What about Life Skills, Communication and Conflict Resolution. Evolution, perhaps some children and adults miss the whole or part of the course. I did, and so how surprised do you think I was when I realised my parents missed the course as well. Things like Compromise, Win Win, Empathy, and Love. Invisible energy and other skills like public speaking, how to Relate, Assuming, Blaming, Forgiveness, Freedom and Discrimination. This is how I learned respect. If you don't know what it is then how do you relate?

Youth Suicide
I would like to suggest firstly that starting at the root in a holistic pattern so that everyone in our community is included and a seed is planted to prevent our youth dying.

The Tree of Dreams
Come make a wish. I know it will come true, it did for me...