Step by Step: Background
Step by Step is comprised of a support
service and online materials that enable schools to build emotional
resilience among staff and young people, and to be prepared for an
incident of self-harm or attempted or completed suicide.
Step by Step equips school
communities to
- build emotional resilience among staff and young
people
- be prepared for an incident of attempted or completed
suicide
- respond effectively to an attempted or completed
suicide
- enable the school community to recover
- prevent the formation of suicide clusters
The online documents
The coordinators
- are specifically trained volunteers from our existing
Samartians local network
- can offer practical support, guidance and information on
addressing the impact of suicide on the school community
- also work proactively with schools and local authorities and
other appropriate agencies to prevent suicides
The Step by Step service is aiming to:
- Prepare school communities for an incident of self harm /
suicide
- Equip young people, school staff and parents with knowledge and
skills to respond effectively to a suicide or incident of self harm
and other issues relating to loss
- Equip young people, school staff and parents with skills to
support their peers during times of crisis and prevent
isolation
- Support the school community through a crisis and help them to
move into recovery.
- Utilise positive coping strategies to reduce the risk of young
people and the school community of developing serious mental health
problems
Why is this project important?
A suicide in a school community can act as a trigger for young
people who may be experiencing mental health problems or feeling
isolated. As the risk of contagion is highest among
adolescents, it is critical that schools respond effectively by
working constructively with young people and avoiding activities
that may inadvertently promote suicidal feelings.
Many schools have told us that they do not feel prepared to
manage the aftermath of an attempted or completed suicide. While
many excellent resources are available to assist schools, support
is needed to identify and use these in the most appropriate way,
and to coordinate the response to an attempted or completed
suicide.
The service and supporting online materials also enable schools
to build emotional resilience among staff and young people, and to
be prepared for an incident of attempted or completed suicide.
Related information
Step
by Step introduction
Providing
local support
Resources for dealing with
suicide
Resources for dealing with
self-harm
Further Information
For further information please contact
Sam Oakley, Development Officer,
on +44 (0)208 394 8286 or email stepbystep@samaritans.org
Feedback
Let us know
whether you used the Step by Step service and what you thought of
it