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.