School suicide program challenged by principal

THE principal of a school where a student took her own life is concerned the focus of a federal support program is misdirected.

THE principal of a Melbourne school where a student last week took her own life is concerned the focus of a federal support program launched yesterday is misdirected.

Under the program announced by Mental Health Minister Mark Butler, $20 million will be spent over three years to train and send support workers to secondary schools hit by suicide.

It will be administered through youth mental health organisation Headspace.

But Melbourne Girls' College principal Judith Crowe said resources needed to be devoted to equipping counsellors and teaching staff within schools. "Students want to talk to people they already know and trust, and bringing in new people can present issues in itself," she said.

"By all means, school staff should be given access to external expert advice and information, but ultimately there's no formula for dealing with situations such as these, and an understanding of the school community and individual students is integral."

Mr Butler said the school support program was being implemented alongside a wide range of suicide prevention initiatives as part of the Gillard government's $2.2 billion mental health reform plan.