Responsible Management of the Aftermath of a Student Suicide

When a student completes the act of suicide, either at school or in the community, the way in which the aftermath is handled is critically important to maintain control over the school environment. Every effort must be made to avoid copycat behavior.

Keep the school open. Follow regular schedule to avoid undue anxiety, letting students, parents, and staff know that the situation is being handled.

Strong feelings will be expressed by students and staff will need to validate.

Grief counseling/process after suicide. An intense search for the reasons “why” is normal, but may lead to scapegoat or blaming another for the death. This may put the person being blamed at risk for suicide.

Provide teachers with an announcement prepared by the school principal. Have teachers announce the death of the student to their first class of the day, should NOT be announced in a large assembly. Avoid the phrases “committed suicide” or “successful suicide” as these expressions connote criminal or desirable behavior.

Encourage teachers to provide students with an opportunity to express their feelings. Explain what students can possibly expect as they grieve (feeling angry, guilty, shock, anxious, lonely, sad, numb, or experiencing physical pain).

Follow prearranged protocol for emptying student locker and returning items to family and friends. Parents may prefer to do this in privacy or have school staff do it for them. Provide quiet time and support to meet their wishes.

Funeral Arrangements Often the day of the funeral is critical in terms of crisis management. Ask the family, when possible, to hold the funeral service after school hours. If that is not possible, students should be allowed to attend the funeral during school hours with parental permission.

Inappropriate Memorial Activities Avoid memorial services being held within the school building, flying the flag at half-mast, large student assemblies, dedications of sports events or other special events, or anything that glamorizes or glorifies the suicide. Grieving families and students may insist that their deceased loved one be honored. These energies are best channeled into constructive projects that help the living. Appropriate Memorial Actives Choosing appropriate commemorative activities is one of the most delicate issues a school faces after a suicide. Honoring a student who has died can be very healing and helpful, but if the death is a suicide and the memorial activities glamorize or sensationalize the suicide, other vulnerable youth may consider suicide as a way to end their pain and receive attention for doing so. Encourage donations to the bereaved family, favorite charities or suicide prevention efforts, and supporting the community-based efforts of the family to commemorate their loved one. It is recommended that all school guidelines for commemorative activities designed to honor any member of the school community who dies for any reason in fair and equitable way.

Dedication Pages Must be appropriate and consistent. It is important for schools to set guidelines, include allotting the same amount of space to everyone. This space includes a photograph, the person’s name, birth and death dates, and something about what the individual did while living.

Diploma Awards Graduation and award ceremonies can be very painful times for the families of students who have died. It is important to plan ahead of how your school wishes to manage these events. When, where, how, to whom and under what circumstances will you award honorary diplomas, letters, awards to those who dies prior to the event. Once again, it is important to have guidelines that support consistency and fairness for all. Fatal Suicidal Behavior (Short version) Principal will convene with the designee and:

a. Contact law enforcement or medical examiner in order to verify and get the facts. In Oregon, the cause of death is public record.

b. Alert counselor and staff at schools where any siblings are enrolled.

c. Meet with staff to review planned in-class discussion formats and guidelines for talking to students. Prepare staff for student reactions, and review risk factors and warning signs for adolescent suicide.

d. Follow-up with the family should be maintained for as long as necessary. Holidays and anniversaries are particularly difficult times.

e. Special consideration in managing the aftermath to avoid copycat behavior.

f. Inform the superintendent of the death. Utilize a designated media spokesperson and remind staff not to talk with press or spread rumors and, if asked, refer media to designated spokesperson.

g. The media spokesperson states that law enforcement officials are investigating an untimely death (Do not use student or staff names).

Monitor close friends and compile list of students who may be at-risk for suicide.

Write a letter to parents, include what the school is doing to assist all students to cope and provide resources for youth suicide prevention.

Engage support of school counselor, staff, and community mental health agency.

Permit students to leave school with parental permission and track attendance.

Initiate grief-counseling plan as determined by need.

Keep an informal time log of response activities.

Make arrangements for school staff to call or visit to express condolences to the family of the deceased and the importance of disclosing the cause of death.

Relay information about viewings and funeral to student and staff.

Document activities and file in principal’s office.

Debrief daily or as needed with school staff during crisis period.