Name of Student:

Simon Lyons- G00297365

Article/Reading: Well-Being in Post-Primary Schools, Guidelines for Mental
Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention; DES,
Department of Health, HSE (2013)
1. CONCISE SUMMARY OF READING

[1 x A4 page]

As mental health is such a topical issue in schools these days, I felt this
was a very appropriate article to examine and discuss. The article was
jointly published by the Department of Education and Skills, the
Department of Health, Ireland and the Health Service Executive in 2013.
The main aim of this article is to provide a practical framework for
supporting schools in this challenging area and also build on the
significant work currently undertaken in schools (2013). These guidelines
also aim to promote mental health work using the National Educational
Psychological Service (NEPS) Continuum of Support and the Health
Promoting School Framework and the article also aims to provide an
outline of the relevant supports and services available for schools in
relation to mental health promotion and suicide prevention (2013).
This article is directed at all members of the school community such as
principals, teachers, parents associations and student councils. It is also
aimed at health professionals.
This article is divided into six different sections dealing with different
aspects of mental well-being and suicide prevention. Section one is an
introduction and outlines the purpose of the guidelines and who the
guidelines are for. Section two gives an overview of mental health
promotion and suicide prevention, explains the terminology involved,
examines the schools role with regard to the topic and assesses what we
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already know about young people and mental health in Ireland. In this
section they also examine the risk and protective factors for youth mental
health in post- primary schools. Section three looks into support for all
students in the school in order to prevent mental health problems. This is
a whole- school approach. In this section they also discuss many
important issues with regard to mental well- being such as Social, Personal
and Health Education (SPHE) and Relationships and Sexuality Education
(RSE). They also examine supporting and sustaining family relationships
and support for school staff.
Section four is amore in depth analysis of one part of section three which
is school support for some. This is where school staff identify that some
students may have minor mental health issues or behavioural problems
and they can then organise support for these students. They may also
have to monitor and review the students progress.
Section five is also a breakdown of one part of section three which is
school support for a few. This is an extremely important section for
teachers to be aware of as it deals with life and death. It discusses the
needs of students with extreme mental difficulties and students who are
suicidal. These are guidelines on referring and supporting students with
major mental health concerns and who are at risk of suicidal behaviour
and supporting them when they return to school. It also deals with how a
school should respond in the aftermath of a death by suicide.
The final section of this article deals with support for schools on the topic
in question. It discusses the professional development of teachers within
the school and also the support services that are available to schools such
as the Department of Education and Skills, the Department of Children
and Youth Affairs, the Health Service Executive and also mental health and
suicide prevention programmes.
In conclusion, the article is a set of guidelines for post- primary schools on
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mental health promotion and suicide prevention. It is very informative and

deals with extremely important issues that every teacher should be aware
of and competent to deal with if the need arose in their classroom. It also
provides a list of support systems that are in place and places to go if you
need to find more information or get more support.
2. CRITICAL REFLECTION

[2 x A4 pages]

As the issue of mental health is very popular nowadays, I felt this was an
important article to discuss. I feel the author provides the reader with
invaluable information on this important topic of mental well-being and
suicide prevention. I believe the article is very informative because it
deals with almost every aspect of mental health. Firstly, it explains in
great detail what mental health promotion and suicide prevention is. This
is vital because if the reader doesnt know what they are reading about
they will be lost from the start. It then goes on to outline the schools role
in relation to this issue. This is also a strength of the article as it makes
people aware that mental health promotion programmes in schools can
produce long term benefits for young people in emotional and social
functioning and improved academic performance.
Another strength of this article is its structure. It is well laid out and easy
to read and follow. There is clearly an introduction to the piece, six main
sections which are the body of the article and are divided up into subtopics for ease of reading and finally the conclusion which logically sums
up the article clearly and concisely.
One particular section of the article that I believe to be very important to
the mental well- being of teenagers is dealt with very well in section three
of this piece. It deals with issues such as relationships and sexuality
which, in my opinion, are most certainly areas of concern when it comes
to suicidal behaviour. I feel this is so because many young teenagers are
afraid to come out as gay, lesbian or transgender because of a fear of
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what people will think of them and also a fear of bullying. If these RSE
classes are implemented in schools correctly, I feel it will make more
young people aware of different types of sexuality and reduce the bullying
and stigma that is attached to coming out as gay. This along with antibullying policies and effective student support structures in schools ensure
that young people with difficulties are identified, supported and provided
with appropriate help.
As I have experienced suicide in school myself when I was in fifth year, I
am aware of the effects it can have on the students, staff and school in
general. I wasnt aware of it at the time but the critical incident plan was
obviously put into effect immediately as it says it should be in this article.
There were also councillors available to students in the days and weeks
following the tragedy. I also remember one teacher in particular who I
know now definitely wasnt aware of this article as he was very insensitive
to students in the days following the incident and wasnt very discrete
about the way he dealt with emotional students. This brings me to the
opinion that this document should be studied by every student teacher in
Ireland before they are even let out on their first teaching placement. This
may seem slightly extreme but in my opinion, the mere thought that one
teacher could identify suicidal behaviour in one student due to their
heightened awareness having read this article, and possibly save a childs
life by acting on instinct and approaching the situation, is enough for me
to make that statement.
Another very important part of this article I noticed was in section three,
school support for all. It is in the key areas of action part to do with policy
and planning. It is substance use and I feel it is a growing problem with
young people and has a direct link to mental well- being. Substance
misuse is an increasingly recognised problem among people with mental
health problems. Many individuals may suffer from both mental health and
substance misuse problems and while there is some difficulty in
identifying which condition occurs first, in cases where individuals suffer
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from both, experts suggest that each condition may play a role in the
development of the other(Mental Health Ireland, 2015). With the correct
policy and planning in place this issue can be dealt with in schools and
make students more aware of this important issues.
Overall, I believe this is a very informative piece written with great
structure and clear intent. As I have outlined above, I feel this article is of
invaluable importance to student teachers and also teachers that are out
in the workplace at the moment. Everyone should be made aware of this
article as it could be the difference between saving a students life to
suicide and letting it slip away due to ignorance or lack of knowledge. A
student will not be able to reach their full potential in the classroom if they
are suffering from mental issues so it is our duty as educators to ensure
our students are comfortable in the classroom and that they have the
chance to reach self- actualisation.
3. LIST OF REFERENCES
Well-Being in Post-Primary Schools, Guidelines for Mental Health
Promotion and Suicide Prevention; DES, Department of Health, HSE
(2013)
Mental Health Ireland (2015)

GMIT Letterfrack

2013 2014