This website sometimes talks about complicated or emotional information. Sometimes we use a specific term to make talking about it easier. The glossary explains some of these terms. If you can’t find the exact term you’re looking for or have questions, please contact your sector for help.

Terms

a

Aboriginal

The Department for Education use the term ‘Aboriginal’ to refer to people who identify as Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, or both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander. This term is preferred by Aboriginal South Australians and the department.

Source: Aboriginal Education strategy 2019 to 2029.

b

c

co-regulate

A process to help someone self-regulate through calming activity. It is a term used in psychology.

contagion

See suicide contagion.

copycat

A person who copies another person’s ideas, actions or behaviour.

critical incident review

A process that looks at how a school responded to a sudden death. It examines what worked well and what needs to change or improve. Some people call this an operational debrief.

cultural protocols

The customs, lore and codes of behaviour of a particular cultural group. It also refers to the protocols and procedures used to guide the observance of traditional knowledge and practices.

Adapted from SNAICC: National Voice for our Children.

d

deliberate self-harm

An act where someone has deliberately physically hurt themselves. It is a negative coping strategy in response to distress.

e

emergency response team

A group of school staff who respond when there has been a sudden death. The group is led by the site leader. Their work includes preparation and response.

See site leader. See also sudden death.

f

g

gender diverse

A broad term that can refer to all forms of gender identity and gender expression. It includes people who may identify as for example trans, transgender, gender queer or gender questioning.

h

homophobia

See phobia.

i

ideation

See suicidal ideation.

j

k

l

LGBTIQ+

An acronym that is used to describe lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and questioning/queer, (plus other) people collectively.

m

n

o

p

phobia

An irrational fear and/or intolerance to something. In this context, it refers to the discrimination against people, such as those who identify as:

• intersex (interphobia)
• same-sex attracted (homophobia)
• transgender, gender diverse or gender nonconforming (transphobia)
• bisexual (biphobia).

These attitudes can be linked with hostility, verbal and physical abuse or prejudice..

postvention

See suicide postvention.

postvention plan

A set of specific details about how to support a school community bereaved by a sudden death. It is developed by the site leader and emergency response team. It helps with recovery. It prevents negative outcomes including, but not limited to, suicidal behaviour.

See also site leader and emergency response team.

q

r

s

school counsellor

A counsellor who is employed by an Independent or Catholic school.

For Government schools see student wellbeing leader.

sector office

The central or lead team for a specific education group in South Australia.

For Government schools, this is the Department for Education.
For Catholic schools, this is Catholic Education South Australia.
For Independent schools, this is the Association of Independent Schools of South Australia.

Sector office contact details.

self-harm

See deliberate self-harm.

site leader

A school principal or preschool director. They run the site (school or preschool).

student

A child or young person enrolled at an education site. This includes high school, school or preschool.

student wellbeing leader

An educator who is employed to support student mental health and wellbeing in a Department for Education school.

For Catholic and Independent schools school counsellor.

sudden death

A death that is sudden, unexpected or violent. In this context a sudden death is suicide.

suicide

When someone has ended their own life.

suicidal ideation

Passive thoughts about wanting to be dead or active thoughts about killing oneself. It does not include preparing to act on the thoughts. Some people call this suicide ideation.

suicide contagion

A process where one suicide or suicidal act at a school makes it more likely that others attempt to die by suicide. Some people just say ‘contagion’.

suicide postvention

An organised response after a death by suicide.

t

u

v

w

x

y

z