Schools gave us the cold shoulder when we offered classes on suicide prevention

Parents' fears after life-saving mental health education snub

- BY GEMMA RYDER

A GRIEVING mum and dad have warned that schools are “shutting the door” on lifesaving mental-health education after losing their teenage son to suicide.

“Adventurous” and “bright” Soma Veres was just 15 when he passed away in February 2022.

The Kirkwall Grammar School pupil had battled depression and bullying.

His mum and dad Ibolya Sandor, 51, and Szabolcs Veres, 56, have since dedicated their lives to help prevent other families enduring the same loss.

The couple, from Orkney, run Soma's Light charity, which works to enhance mental health support for local young people, reduce stigma and promote suicide-prevention education.

But despite their work - and the many young people approaching them for help - Ibolya and Szabolcs say schools on the island continue to avoid conversations about suicide.

Specialist support teacher Ibolya told the Record: “Schools have given us the cold shoulder when we've offered to deliver suicide-prevention workshops.

“They are saying things like 'We don't want to open a can of worms' or 'We don't want to plant ideas in their heads'.