(Highly edited) Obviously CH now has an in depth and effective system incorporating both active overview and also a passive system whereby a pupil can voluntarily and presumably confidentially get a listening ear (and often that is enough).huggermugger wrote:Hello all
I am a current parent and as some of you know have had some experience of how CH deals with bullying today, albeit in a fairly minor way.
One of the things that has impressed me most about CH are the support systems, formal & informal, which are in place. There is a Peer Support system in each house where they formally look out for each other, report back to a more senior group, who take action in the form of issuing warnings & refer it to the housemaster if necessary. It was this "early warning" system that first saw the problems with my son (I abbreviate this to DS), so that by the time I knew about it, action on this level had already been taken. (In our case, action was needed & taken by the housemaster as well.) There is a strong ethos, at least in DS's house, of looking after the younger boys.
In the front of the CH calendar they are given details & times of "confidential listening & support" from Mrs Mitra, both with & without appointment. Independent listeners, ie: not directly connected with the school, are also available in the form of (I presume local) clergy, contact details of whom are on noticeboards around the school.
Sorry this post is a bit wordy!
In addition the medical side incorporates what I would expect - the staff can authorise anything but they are expected to contact parents if reasonably possible.
I think Caroline's post indicates a misunderstanding. Becoming suicidual takes time to develop and any competent housemaster, other teacher, matron should see it coming a long time in advance; they should have already contacted the family and gone from there. IF a pupil had got to that stage (or the staff thought so) then we are talkung about an acute situation - not a chronic one.
I didn't get to that stage but in my case Kit Aitken brought in his early-warning system when my mother died in term-time. It was to ensure I knew who and what help was available if I chose to obtain it and the school officially would not even know that I had taken that option. The idea was very much appreciated.