Page 9 - Guidance for Schools, Colleges, and Youth Services :: Portus

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Keep talking What not to do
Good communication between all those involved Children and young people have reported that the
can help to coordinate care for the child or young first time they speak to a professional they want to
person and improve their feelings of distress. be treated with care and respect. It’s really important
Consent is the key to shared care it can be helpful to to listen carefully and take what they say seriously, or
be clear about this from the outset with the child or they may not talk about it again.
young person, their family and their GP.
Let them say and talk about what they need to, while
The following open questions can help to keep an you listen and empathise, before you jump in with
ongoing dialogue: any safeguarding policy that may apply. If/when you
do apply this, allow the child/young person to feel
• How are things for you right now?
involved in this, rather than all control be taken away.
• Can you say what’s bothering you?
It is important to understand that certain
• What might help you? approaches can be unhelpful.
• What would you like to happen next? Please do not:
• Use a space that does not provide a safe and quiet
environment to discuss the issue

• Be distracted by other priorities
• Overreact and panic
• Be dismissive, or assume it’s ‘attention-seeking’
behaviour
• Add to their guilt by suggesting their behaviour
will hurt others
Please check out the following Crisis Tools to
improve your understanding of how to effectively
support young people experiencing psychological
distress.
The particularly vulnerable
The child or young person’s GP (General Medical
Practitioner) can offer confidential and regular Isolated children and young people with little or no
support for a wide range of health problems support systems in place are particularly vulnerable
including the psychological distress and physical and a cause for concern. These include Looked After
injuries of self-harm. Quick access to advice and, Children or those who are not in school, education or
if necessary, an appointment should usually be employment. Children and young people who have
available for urgent matters. little or no support in their family, perhaps because
of parental mental or physical illness, parental
substance misuse or family relationship breakdown
Talking to a child or young may also be more vulnerable.

person about suicide
Talking to a child or young person about suicidal
thoughts is not easy. Having the conversation is
the most important thing.

Portus - A Safe Space - Guidance on Self-harm and Suicide Prevention for Schools, Colleges and Youth Services.
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