Crisis Managment Plan: How to Handle a Tragic Death or Suicide Within a School Community

Unfortunately in today's world school communities are being forced to deal with issues of death and suicide at a rapidly rising rate. The death of a classmate, particularly by suicide, can be devastating to students and school administrations must have a plan for dealing with this unfortuante occurance.

When a school community is faced with the tragic death of a student, it is important to remember that the first 48 hours are the most important. School officials must have a plan to announce the death, support the students and staff, and maintain a balance between relaying information and respecting privacy. Whatever action plan a school has created must be enacted immediately to avoid the panic and paranoia that students will be prone to when dealing with this unfamiliar territory.

In the event of a suicide or tragic death, school officials must be aware that rumors will run rampant among students and staff. The school administration will serve as the voice of authority to the school community; for that reason, school officials need to be sure to verify all information before sharing it with students or teachers. Officials must also be in close communication with the family in order to ensure that the family's right to privacy is repsected.

After the information has been given and all necessary announcements have been made, the school needs to create a plan for students who need to talk to someone or who need extra support. Remember that the peers of adolescents who attempted suicide are especially vulnerable to attempting suicide themselves. The adolescent years are fraught with depression, self-doubt, and anxiety. Being aware of these concerns will allow schools to help students who might be prone to re-enacting their peers' actions.

On top of dealing with their own issues of depression and questions about self-worth, students will also be going through the grief process. It is extremely important that school administrators be aware of the grief process and allow time for students, faculty, and themselves to go through that healthy process. Know that as a school administrator, teachers and students are watching you for cues on how to behave and feel. You can be a model for them of how to deal with their grief in a healthy and constructive manner.

Due to the maturity levels of adolescents and the fact that many of them do not have experience dealing with tragedy, middle and high school students will have special issues that need to be dealt with. These include, but are not limited to: dependency, unresolved conflicts, a tendancy to gossip about, distort, and sensationalize facts, power struggles and a feeling of powerlessness, and guilt issues. Having a good crisis managment plan in place will help school officials deal with the many issues and concerns that will arise in the event of a tragic death or suicide.

A good crisis management plan should be able to answer each of the following questions in the event of a tragic death or suicide.

How and when should staff be informed?

Is there a clearly defined phone tree in place?

How and when should students be informed?

What specific information will be shared about the tragedy with teachers and staff?

How will the school protect the family's privacy?

Who is the spokesperson for the school and what information will be released to the media?

What will staff members be told to say if contacted by the media?

How should the personal possessions of the student be handled?

If other schools are affected by the crisis, how should they be included in the crisis management efforts?

Will you have a "care center" for those students who are upset?

Where will the "care center" be located?

Who will supervise the "care center"?

How will students be identified to come to the "care center"?

How many days will the "care center" be in existence?

What available staff will you utilize city-wide?

How will teachers, who are emotionally upset, be assisted?