WAQ79229 (e) Tabled on 12/12/2019

Will the Minister provide an update on what the Welsh Government is doing to ensure that the new guidance on talking about suicide and self-harm is used by all schools in Wales and how its use is monitored?

Answered by Minister for Education | Answered on 17/12/2019

Responding to Issues of Self-harm and Thoughts of Suicide in Young People guidance for teachers, professionals, volunteers and youth services was published on 10 September 2019.  Anecdotal evidence suggests the guidance has been well received by professionals and we have received a number of requests for further copies from schools and others since its publication. 

I indicated in my evidence to Committee earlier in the summer that we would produce a framework for schools to support the development of their own whole school approach to emotional and mental wellbeing.  Following stakeholder engagement we have moved to include specific reference to suicide and self-harm and links to the guidance in the current draft framework.  An important element of the framework will be how we ensure it is having the desired impact, and we will be formally reviewing its implementation and application.  This will include all the key priority areas highlighted in the document, including the important issue of suicide and self-harm.  The framework is currently undergoing further revision with I hope that it will be subject to formal consultation in the New Year.

More generally, we are in discussion with Swansea University and Professor Ann John, who chairs the Welsh Government’s National Advisory Group on Suicide and Self-harm, on what more we can do to support schools and supplement the guidance for professionals.  I have recently agreed to commission further research by Prof. John in relation to  online expressions of self-harming; its links to online bullying; and bystander interventions.  The intention is to co-produce with young people a toolkit to support them and others in being able to provide empathetic responses when they come across these issues online.  I am also hopeful we can work further with Prof. John and her team to provide further resources to support school staff, young people and their carers in this important field.