Classroom game could help curb youth suicide, says founder

Youth suicide rates in Ireland could be curbed by implementing an internationally renowned classroom behavioural game, an education expert has said.

An innovative classroom behaviour game – tested in Irish primary schools – has reported a 43 per cent reduction in children’s off task classroom behaviours.

The PAX Good Behaviour Game is based on promoting desirable behaviours with proven games and fun activities which improve classroom behaviours. Children are divided into teams which are rewarded for delivering positive behaviours which support the classroom activity.

Behaviours are described in a novel language and the pupils are rewarded in ways which are imaginative and appealing, while the students are engaged in regular school work.

The game was first implemented in 21 Irish classrooms over a 12-week period under the direction of the founder of the PAXIS Institute in Arizona Dennis Embry earlier this year.

Speaking at the launch of the evaluation report on Thursday, Dr Embry said its widespread implementation in Ireland could help curb our high youth suicide rate.

Ireland has exceptionally high rates of suicide among young men and women according to a 2014 report by the European Child Safety Alliance.

“The programme could help curb future risks of suicides, substance abuse and a whole range of disruptive behaviours in young people who have taken part in the programme,” he said.

Dr Embry also highlighted the strength of financial return of the intervention and called for phased “scaling up” of the programme in Ireland.

“The most recent cost benefit analysis on the Good Behaviour Game by the Washington institute for public policy has shown a social return of $57 for every $1 invested, making it possibly the highest return on investment for any schools-based programme worldwide.”

Beneficial

Midlands Area Parenting Partnership manager Conor Owens said the programme is beneficial for all children not just those with behaviour challenges.

“The high impact achieved in this research shows that the programme is a very good fit for Irish classrooms. I would encourage its use for the benefit of as many children and families as possible,” he said.

The programme was delivered among first and second class children in Dublin and the midlands last spring through Preparing for Life (Northside Partnership) and the midlands area partnership.

The evaluation of the programme in Irish classrooms found a significant reduction in the hyperactivity, restlessness and disruptive behaviour among the children.

It found one-third or 29 per cent of the pupils scoring with the most challenging behaviours before the programme moved into normal range after the 12-week delivery period.

To deliver the programme, teachers are trained in the approach and then apply it within the ongoing classroom work with support from a coach who visits them in the classrooms.

Denise Carter, a teacher at Our Lady Immaculate Junior National School in Darndale, Dublin said she went from having a challenging class to having highly motivated children.

“Every single child in the room got the PAX programme and was engaged. We started to get much more done in the classroom with far less disruption and time wasting. Class line ups can be done in seconds rather than minutes by using the game.”

Preparing for Life and the midlands area partnership are training a further 40 teachers this autumn and another 40 next January which will enable the programme to be delivered in 100 classrooms benefitting more than 2,000 pupils annually.