The Feasibility, Acceptability, and Perceived Need for Suicide Initiatives for Children in UK Primary Schools

Participants across UK primary schools supported suicide prevention programmes for children, citing rising concerns under 11 and ongoing peer discussions, with 92 total contributors informing feasibility and acceptability.

• Why it matters: There are no UK primary-school-specific suicide prevention programmes, yet suicidality concerns are rising among children under 11, creating a need to assess perceived demand and practical fit.
• What they did: The qualitative scoping study used semi-structured interviews with mental health professionals (N=22), school staff (N=8), and parents (N=7), plus focus groups with secondary (N=36) and primary students (N=19) across 5 schools, analyzed via thematic framework analysis.
• The result: Three themes emerged: perceived necessity, delivery barriers with solutions, and the primary-to-secondary transition; findings suggest programmes may be acceptable if delivered safely and age-appropriately, emphasizing myth dispelling, help-seeking, and knowledge.

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