התמודדות בתי הספר המקצועיים עם סיכון אובדני בקרב תלמידים: תמונת מצב ומבט לעתיד

This paper presents suicide prevention strategies applied by the Ministry of Welfare and Social Services within the vocational high schools in Israel. The students studying in the vocational high schools in Israel are a high risk group, therefore, since 2008 special means have been taken to address suicide risk among these students. The prevention strategies employed include: 1) Self-report screening, 2) Gatekeepers training and 3) School-psychotherapy. Self-report screening for suicide ideation and attempts, as well as general psychological distress symptoms are conducted at the beginning of every school year. In addition, the majority of the school staff undergoes “Gatekeeper” training. Furthermore, in order to provide adequate treatment to suicidal students, a school-psychotherapy model has been applied. Thus, students identified as suicidal are referred to a psychologist who provides individual psychotherapy in school. It is our belief that the prevention strategies applied thus far by the Ministry of Welfare and Social Services contribute to the well-being and mental health of students. The Ministry of Welfare and Social Services will continue its efforts in reducing students’ risk behaviors in general and suicidal behavior in particular.