Principals show variety of attitudes on suicide

Much of the responsibility for suicide prevention, education and notification falls to Utah schools, but an informal poll of principals shows their attitudes and policies about this emotional issue are as varied as the students they serve.

As part of this six-part series on teen suicide, Deseret Morning News reporters sent a voluntary, anonymous survey to 300 principals at Utah middle and high schools. Ninety surveys were returned.

The responses demonstrate a range of beliefs about how to prevent suicide and how to proceed if one occurs among a school's population.

"It is a very real problem," one educator responded. "Every effort is made to provide prevention information and provide opportunities for students to connect with adults in our school."

But another principal, who'd had only one student commit suicide in 15 years, said the problem of youth suicide in Utah is "manufactured."

"My perception is that there is a lot of misinformation regarding the number of youth suicides in Utah," the author wrote.

"Schools aren't the cure-all for society's ills," wrote someone else.

Varied responses

The survey asked seven questions related to teen suicide, including school efforts toward suicide prevention and policies that govern school actions when a student takes his or her own life. The survey also asked principals' opinions about any stigma about or hurdle to cross for frank discussion of youth suicide.

Results of the unscientific poll were varied.

Sixty percent of those who responded agreed with child psychologists and suicide experts who say there is a negative stigma affecting discussion of the topic.

"I think the stigma mainly stems from religious beliefs," someone wrote.

"Suicide is often discussed in hushed tones or not discussed at all," another school official wrote.

"Any flaw is stigmatized in Utah since kids think they are supposed to be perfect," offered another.

Some speculated that the state's conservative religious make-up contributes to a blanket of secrecy around youth suicide.

"The predominant religion paints suicide as never justifiable," wrote one principal.

"We really don't want to start kids thinking about it, and many religions look on it as a sin," wrote someone else.