Postvention

Key Considerations:

 It is very important to
treat all deaths in the
same way.
Planning
Information for faculty of Dartmouth High
 Adolescents are School when a loss of a student results in
especially vulnerable to a death by suicide.
the risk of suicide
contagion, it’s equally
important to
memorialize the

South Dartmouth, MA 02748

student in a way that
doesn’t inadvertently
glamorize or

Dartmouth High School

romanticize either the
student or the death

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 Schools should
emphasize that the
student who died by
suicide was likely
struggling with a
mental disorder, such
as depression or
anxiety, that can cause
substantial
psychological pain but What is Postvention?
School Counseling Graduate Student

may not have been

apparent to others [Postvention is] an organized response in the
aftermath of a suicide to accomplish any one or
 Help is available for
Bridgewater State University

more of the following:

any student who may
be struggling with
 To facilitate the healing of individuals from
Bridgewater, MA 02324

mental health issues or

the grief and distress of suicide loss
suicidal feelings
 To mitigate other negative effects of
Chelsea Benevides

exposure to suicide

131 Summer St

To prevent suicide among people who are at

high risk after exposure to suicide

Suicide can have a tremendous impact on schools,
leading to profound grief among students, family
members, and school personnel. Schools must be
prepared to address these consequences.
 Suicide response should be just one
component of your school’s broad crisis
plan. Many protocols for dealing with
other unexpected deaths will help you
cope with a suicide as well.
 Make sure you review and revise the plan
regularly.
 Count on mental health providers and
resources in your community. Try and
engage regularly with the community
resources so that you are not meeting
them for the first time during a crisis.
Resources:
Suicide Prevention Resource Center
All settings should incorporate
postvention as a component of a Education Development Center, Inc.
comprehensive approach to 43 Foundry Avenue
suicide prevention (“Suicide Waltham, MA 02453
Prevention Resource Center,” 2017).
877-GET-SPRC (877-438-7772)
www.zerosuicide.sprc.org
Practical Coping Strategies:
Encourage students to think about specific
things they can do when intense emotions such
as worry or sadness begin to well u, including:
National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention
 Simple relaxation and distraction skills,
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such as taking three deep slow
breathes, counting to 10, or picturing Washington, DC 20007
themselves in a favorite calm and
202-223-4059
relaxing place
 Engaging in favorite activities or
hobbies such as music, talking with a
friend, reading, or going to a movie
 Exercising
 Thinking about how they’ve coped with
difficulties in the past and reminding
themselves that they can use those
same coping skills now
 Writing a list of people they can turn to
for support
 Writing a list of things they’re looking
forward to References:
 Focusing on individual goals, such as
Suicide Prevention Resource Center. (2017).
returning to a shared class or spending
Retrieved from www.sprc.org
time with mutual friends
Students should also be encouraged to think
about how they want to remember their friend.