My initial reaction to the article was feeling somewhat odd that people are asking whether or not schools can stop teen suicide. For the amount of stress, hardship and, occasionally, even agony that students experience during school, I find it ironic that society is asking if schools can stop teen suicide when they are quite often the cause of it. School* as a whole can take a very heavy toll on a person. Being forced to get countless assignments completed on time, having to pay close attention for hours on end each day only to be sent home with more work as well as being in an environment which most do not like are all potential contributors to teen suicide. Basically, it is like asking the coal plants to solve air pollution. That's not exactly something they have on the top of their priority list.
Despite all of these negatives, I do believe it is possible for schools to reduce the likelihood of teen suicide. The first and most obvious step would be to have more social workers so that they do not have to pick and choose between who is the worst off and needs help the most. Running events like Challenge Day I believe to have a great impact on the mental welfare of students socially to help eliminate feelings of loneliness, isolation and fear. Whether or not these things will make a big enough difference, I don't know but schools should still try to stop teen suicide more than the current efforts. Even though they often make significant contributions as to why teenagers take their own lives, that does not mean efforts should not be made to reduce those factors. To eliminate them would require massive alterations to the concept of school but it is worth a shot. The probability may not always be in your favour but the possibility is endless.
*When I say 'school', I am referring to teachers, students, the curriculum and every other aspect of attending an education system.
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