Pubdate: Wed, 27 Nov 2002 Source: Kelowna Capital News (CN BC) Copyright: 2002, West Partners Publishing Ltd. Contact: http://www.kelownacapnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1294 Author: John McDonald LOCAL SCHOOLS OFFER SUICIDE CRISIS HELP With no system in place to deal with critical situations, the Kelowna Minor Hockey Association is turning to the Central Okanagan school district for help after the death by suicide of a 15-year-old player last weekend. "The minor hockey association has no such vehicle so we're helping them out," said superintendent of schools Ron Rubadeau. The superintendent said while the boy was a student from Rutland senior secondary, his teammates came from private and public schools from all over the valley. "We're also helping the private schools," added Rubadeau. "They have no crisis response teams of their own. The only group in town that has the capability and skills to deal with it is us." Media reports from the Lower Mainland say the boy was facing suspension from his team after being found in possession of marijuana during a hockey trip, a violation of the minor hockey leagues' policy. After being told he would be dropped from the team, the boy reportedly hung himself in the bathroom of his hotel room. His death is the second suicide this year involving a student from the Central Okanagan school district. In early October, a 13-year-old boy from Constable Neil Bruce middle school died by suicide. That youth had been suspended from school although the coroner has not yet said if there is any connection between the suspension and his death. Rubadeau said students in Central Okanagan school district from Grade 6 onward are taught the warning signs of suicide through their career and personal planning course, a half-time program that also deals with a number of other sensitive issues such as sex education. The superintendent could not say how much of the 50-hour course is dedicated to suicide prevention, but said he felt the information students receive is specific to how teens can tell if their friends or acquaintances are contemplating suicide and how to get help for them. "I think its being covered," said Rubadeau. "Whether we could concentrate on this more remains to be seen." Rubadeau said the school district has a policy of saying little about students who die by suicide for fear of encouraging so-called copycat suicides and attempted suicides. "When the media talks about suicide prevention it's a valuable teaching tool," he said. "What we're worried about is coverage that may trigger other students to do this." Kelowna Minor Hockey Association president Don Evans said he would not comment on the boy's death out of respect for the family. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth