Boy's death triggers computer warnings in schools

Tuesday 23 August 2016

Jersey’s Education Department has introduced a special computer program to alert teachers if students are searching the internet for terms such as “suicide” and “self-harm.”

More support and counselling are also being made available in an attempt to protect vulnerable youngsters.

The moves follow a rise in the number of students saying they feel depressed and an increase in suicides and self-harm.

Summing up at an inquest today into the death of a 13-year-old boy, who hanged himself at home in December last year, the coroner Advocate Mark Harris said he was “heartened to hear Education has ways and means of monitoring computer usage” – and that this was being used to try and prevent possible suicide cases.

He also asked the media to be sensitive in the way it reported the case and not to publish any material that might lead to the identification of those who were giving evidence and were under 18 years old, including the naming of schools. The coroner also urged reporting of this latest teenage death that would not encourage copycat acts.

The court was told the boy was a high achiever – both academically and sportingly – and that being a perfectionist, he demanded a lot of himself. This led to his being stressed and depressed with family life as his parents had separated and he had split allegiances.

This collection of issues prompted him to contempt suicide. A police search of his laptop, i-pad and i-phone show he had visited numerous internet sites for information on how to hang himself, and had engaged in discussion forums on suicide.

A search of his internet history at school also showed he had tried to access similar sites, but that the system had blocked him.

Education keeps an eye on 16,000 users, 4,500 PCs, and 8,000 wireless devices. A system alerts teachers if students are going to inappropriate sites, or are using certain word searches. The sheer number of searches means a very high proportion are blocked, but the court was told most of these are innocent cases, for instance a student working on a history project might search for “kill.” To help target vulnerable students more effectively the system has now been modified and is more refined, and will send teachers an email if certain searches are carried out.

The youngster told his mother about his dark moods and his interest in researching hanging, and she took him to a doctor. In turn he was referred to CAMHS – the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services – which provides specialist counselling. After an initial session he told them he was feeling better and it was agreed a follow-up meeting would be arranged.