Klara Øverland is associate professor at the Learning Environment Center, University of Stavanger and special adviser at the Regional Knowledge Center for Children and Young People, Mental Health and Child Protection.
For several years, she has taught teachers about bullying and emotional difficulties.
– I have met many teachers over many years, and the vast majority have a genuine desire for the children to be well, she says.
Øverland therefore believes that teachers mostly do their best in bullying matters, but that they have not always received the training in the field that they should have.
At the weekend, Dagbladet featured Emely (12), who took her own life after what her parents and Emely herself experienced as severe bullying. The parents have reported both the school to the headmaster and the municipality for a breach of the Education Act, because the parents believe that the school has not done enough to stop the bullying.
The school, for its part, made a double-digit number of activity plans and a number of agencies were connected. But for Emely, everything only got worse.
Emely (12) died: The unimaginable happened
In connection with the Emely case, Dagbladet has contacted the principal at Dysjaland school several times. She has been presented with the information that appears in the report about Emely, but will not comment on the case because it is under police investigation, and refers to the municipal manager for Education and Culture in Sola municipality.
– This is just a deeply tragic event, and it is impossible to fully understand and comprehend what the parents and family have experienced, and what they are going through now. That a child takes his own life is a tragedy that should not happen, and which also strongly affects fellow pupils, staff and our local community, says Rune Moen, municipal manager for Education and culture in Sola municipality.
Read the municipal manager’s full response at the bottom of the case.
Small numbers
About suicide, Øverland says:
– It is deeply tragic when it happens, but fortunately it is rare for children and young people to take their own lives.
Figures from Folkehelsa’s cause of death register also shows that suicide among children is very rare. In the period 2017 to 2021, between 31 and 39 people under the age of 19 took their own lives.
Divided by age group, there have been four to five suicides in the 10-14 age group during the period. In the age group above, 15-19 years, there have been 26 to 35 suicides in the past year.
No child under the age of 10 has taken their own life during the period.
– But it does happen that children and young people take their own lives. Then it is important that we talk about it in a good way. We must work systematically with prevention and follow-up, says Øverland.
Bullying, violence, neglect and depression can increase the risk of suicide, psychologist Øverland believes.
– If we don’t talk about it – it is difficult to prevent suicide, she says.
– We must increase competence.
There is hope
She believes it is important to reassure that there is hope and that everyone who has suicidal thoughts – including adults – must talk about it and contact professionals when it is difficult. Examples could be helplines or GPs. (See fact box above)
– But what should you do as a mother or father if your child has very heavy thoughts?
– You must talk to your child and find out how serious it is. Children and young people are developing and they need support from adults when they are in difficult situations. You must contact support services if the child struggles with heavy thoughts or shows functional impairment.
Øverland believes there are large dark figures when it comes to mental illness as a result of bullying.
– It is difficult when children and young people have sad thoughts, and suicidal thoughts – but that does not automatically lead to action, she states.
– Takes it very seriously
– Deeply tragic
In connection with the Emely case, Rune Moen, municipal manager for Growth and Culture in Sola municipality, also does not want to comment on individual allegations in the case because it is being assessed by the police.
He otherwise writes the following in an e-mail:
– In the Education Act, the municipality is required to work actively and systematically to promote a safe and good school environment, so that all pupils experience security and inclusion. This is an assignment that we at Sola take very seriously, and which is worked on every day at the individual school.
He goes on to say that the school works closely with the educational-psychological service (PPT), health nurses and other support services and agencies.
– Close dialogue with students and parents is an important part of this work. Ensuring all children and young people have a safe everyday school life is a demanding and important mission, where we must continue our efforts, and a job we can never sign off as done, says Moen.
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2023-05-28 20:26:20
#Suicide #among #children #rare
