Shocking – School doesn’t inform mother that teen is suicidal

Teenager told school counsellor she was suicidal before attempt, mother says
Stuff co.nz 17 June 2018
Family First Comment: Where’s the parental notification?
“Last week, the girl attempted suicide at home after taking the day off from school, her mother said. “She went to the counsellor the day before and cried her eyes out and told [them] she was going to kill herself. The counsellor said, ‘oh, that’s a concern. Go back to class’,” she alleged. “She could have been dead today. I could have lost her,” she said. “All you have to do is pick up the phone.””

A mother is “fuming” she was not told her teenage daughter confessed to being suicidal the day before a failed attempt.

The student at Canterbury’s Lincoln High School, who cannot be named to protect her privacy and personal safety, had spoken to a school counsellor and school dean on several occasions about being bullied by other students, and told them she was self-harming, Stuff understands.

The school’s principal, Kathy Paterson, said it had a “highly experienced and caring counselling team” and was “satisfied they acted appropriately in this instance”.

Youth specialists in the New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC) said it was up to school counsellors’ professional judgement whether the risk of suicide was high enough to break confidentiality and alert a student’s family.

Last week, the girl attempted suicide at home after taking the day off from school, her mother said.

“She went to the counsellor the day before and cried her eyes out and told [them] she was going to kill herself. [The counsellor] said, ‘oh, that’s a concern. Go back to class’,” she alleged.
READ MORE: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/104716089/Teenager-told-school-counsellor-she-was-suicidal-before-attempt-mother-says?cid=app-iPhone

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