Calls for school counsellors to help reduce suicide rate

ALL schools should have counsellors who are trained to deal with the problems facing young people to help reduce suicide rates, a conference will hear today.

The call will be made at the annual congress of the Irish Vocational Education Association (IVEA), representing the 32 city and county Vocational Education Committees (VECs) further education courses.

Co Wexford VEC and IVEA’s standing council will call on Education Minister Mary Hanafin to provide schools with trained counsellors who have relevant experience, in light of the number of suicides among young students.