Business Directory

There is a range of support resources available to schools on the Solgrid website including a toolkit from the Samaritans specifically focussed on how schools can respond in the event of a completed or attempted suicide.

The NSPCC has published Suicide: learning from case reviews, a summary of risk factors and learning for improved practice around suicide. This is available from here.

We need to talk about suicide is an eLearning programme for all schools, except infant schools. The programme is specifically aimed at making sure that everyone in contact with the public, in whatever role, knows how to spot any signs of mental distress and feel comfortable in talking about suicide. The programme supports learning and development in suicide competence at level one.

We have been working in partnership with West Midlands Police in response to a recent spate of stabbings of young people across the West Midlands region.  We have considered preventative measures which we can undertake in order to ensure our children and young people across the borough are safe.  In order to do this, we require your assistance in helping to educate children, young people and their parents in relation to knife crime.  Attached is a letter from West Midlands Police to headteachers, a separate letter for parents and carers, and suggested resources to use in school to teach pupils how to keep safe. The lesson plan is targeted primarily at Year 6 and Year 5 pupils, however we suggest and wider safety for all pupils in school is considered in an age appropriate way.  We would like you to make this work an urgent priority this week.  Our designated safeguarding lead handbook has a section entitled gangs and youth violence which is a further resource if you need it.