Contact with at least one caring adult "makes a tremendous difference" to teenagers at risk. This was the message delivered to a seminar on suicide prevention in schools by Prof John Kalafat from Rutgers Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology in New Jersey. Research on inner city youths had found that the ones who succeeded always had a supportive adult in their background, the conference of the Irish Association of Suicidology heard. "Contact with caring adults and a sense of connection with the school are major protective factors against a variety of destructive behaviours, including suicide, substance abuse and interpersonal violence," Prof Kalafat said. He accepted that teachers were overburdened and that schools were not designed to encourage much interaction between teachers and students. Nevertheless, schools should foster the attitude that a teacher can give a student five minutes after a class, even if it means the teacher will be late for the next class, he said. "The most important thing, if you do nothing else, is to listen to them." Prof Kalafat also warned that the internet was uncontrolled when it came to suicide as no media guidelines applied. Websites were being set up helping people to take their own lives, he said. DOs and DON'Ts for teachers dealing with students at risk * Do ask: Is there anything I can do to help you feel safe? Can you tell me what it's like for you, feeling this way? * Do say: I'm concerned for you and I'm going to help you find help. * Do give frequent praise. * Don't make critical statements. * Don't promise that you won't tell anyone. * Don't assume that the pupil is trying to get attention. * Don't say you know exactly how the student feels. * Don't try to argue the person out of being suicidal. * Don't say that suicide is "dumb" or tell the student to "snap out of it". (Source: Irish Times)