Ulster primary school teachers could play a vital role in stemming Northern Ireland’s grim tally of suicide among younger people, it was claimed today.

However, they need funding and support, according to a local teachers’ union.

Jacquie Reid of the Ulster Teachers’ Union, was speaking in the run up to this week’s World Suicide Prevention Day. (FRIDAY SEPT 10).

She urged Education Minister Catriona Ruane to make good on her commitment at this year’s UTU conference when she said a counselling support service would be rolled out in primary schools here.

“I know the Minister is looking at the issue this month and I hope she follows-up on her undertaking to teachers,” said Ms Reid.

She was speaking in the wake of news that five people had committed suicide over the summer in Dungannon, Co Tyrone – among them teenagers – while in Crumlin, Co Antrim, a 12-year-old was found dead at his family home having taken his own life at the end of August.

“These incidents are a wake-up call for all our efforts to be re-doubled in tackling this situation. The tragedy of suicide seems to be affecting younger and younger children, which is why teachers need training if they are to offer any sort of intervention at primary level,” said Ms Reid.

“There is a certain level of counselling available at secondary level, but the death in Crumlin highlights the need for this to start sooner.”

Her views were echoed by UTU General Secretary Avril Hall Callaghan.

“Teachers are often in the front line when it comes to identifying problems and have a vital role to play  – but they haven’t had the training to know what to look for, maybe they just have an intuitive feeling,” she said.

“Teachers are not mental health experts. If a child has a learning difficulty we have markers against which they can be measured and appropriate support given but with mental health issues it’s more complex.

“Teachers need training and they need support if they are to play what could be a vital role in helping our children overcome the terrible feelings of hopelessness and negativity which result in such tragedy for everyone concerned.”

The UTU agreed that the voluntary and charitable sector were already doing vital work by addressing the issue among young people in schools when opportunities presented themselves.

“This only serves to highlight the need and if such a need exists then teachers would welcome some kind of formalised training so they can play their part,” said Ms Hall Callaghan.

Indeed, at a recent public meeting in Dungannon, attended by representatives of the Niamh Louise Foundation – a local suicide awareness group – teachers and young people voiced frustration at the lack of support they received in schools in terms of mental health issues.

“This was something which came through the meeting and something we at least hope to address in partnership with the Foundation through schools in the area,” said Gareth Falls of the Morph Centre in Dungannon, a drop-in facility for the town’s youth.

“Thanks to a grant from the Big Lottery’s Big Deal Programme for young people, we are running a peer education project around the issue of suicide.

“So many young people are looking for help but often they’ll talk among their friends rather than to a mentor or a formal source of information. That’s why peer education in this area is so important.

“Through the funding young people from the Niamh Louise Foundation will be trained around the topic of suicide so they in turn can give information to a wider group of their peers through the centre here. We’re also contacting local schools to see if we can bring in groups of pupils too for sessions.

“Suicide is still such a stigma in our society. There’s still a lot of shame attached to it, for instance in how it is regarded by the church. It’s difficult for young people to know how or who to talk to if they’re having problems or if they’ve been affected in any way by suicide.

“We’ll be looking too at the sort of negative triggers which feed suicidal thoughts – alcohol, drugs, self-esteem, school pressures, even the music they may be listening to.”        

Dungannon student 19-year-old Richard Lamb has already undergone part of the peer education course.

“I’ve found it very useful and have already been able to use elements of what we’ve discussed within my own circle,” he added.