"Living With Change and Loss", a pilot programme that aims to help students develop positive coping strategies, was launched yesterday by the Irish Association of Pastoral Care in Education (IAPCE).

The programme, which addresses a range of mental health themes, includes units on loss and bereavement, parental separation, depression and suicidal feelings.

With a growing concern about the rising rate of suicide among young people, "Living with Change and Loss" is intended to fit into the Transition Year curriculum and to teach students constructive responses to adversity. The IAPCE hopes to begin a pilot programme with about 30 schools in the next year.