Microsoft Word - Sample Announcements to Students after Suicide Death

SampleAnnouncementstoStudents,FacultyandStaffafteraDeath

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Option#1

Thefollowingannouncementshavebeensuggestedforusewhenaddressingstudents,faculty,and

staff. These announcements should be presented in a small meetingroomassoonaspossible

followingthedeath.Amemberofthecrisisteamandpossiblytheprincipalshouldleadthe

meetings. Thegoalsofthemeetingsareto inform the faculty, students, and staff and allowthem

timetoexpresstheiremotions, and preparethemtomeet and dealwitha suicidalcrisis.Faculty

shouldbeinformedofthesuicidefirstandtheyshouldbegiventimetoexpresstheiremotionsand

concernsbeforeinformingtheirstudents.

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Day1

SampleAnnouncementForWhenaSuicideDeathhasOccurred

Morning,Day1 “Thismorningweheardtheextremelysadnewsthat_______________

diedbysuicidelastnight.Iknowweareallsaddenedbyhisdeathandsendour

condolencestohisfamilyandfriends.Crisisstationswillbelocatedthroughouttheschool

todayforstudentswhowishtotalktoacounselor.Informationaboutthefuneralwillbe

providedwhenitisavailable,andstudentsmayattendwithparentalpermission.”

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SampleAnnouncementForaSuspiciousDeathNotDeclaredSuicide

Morning,Day1“Thismorningweheardtheextremelysadnewsthat________________diedlast

night.Thisistheonlyinformationwehaveofficiallyreceivedonthecircumstances

surroundingtheevent.Iknowweareallsaddenedby_____________’sdeathandsendour

condolencestohisfamilyandfriends.Crisisstationswillbelocatedthroughouttheschool

todayforstudentswhowishtotalktoacounselor.Informationaboutthefuneralwillbe

providedwhenitisavailable,andstudentsmayattendwithparentalpermission.”

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SampleAnnouncementPrimaryorMiddleSchool

Morning,Day1“Wewanttotakesometimethismorningtotalkaboutsomethingverysad.

(Name)_______________,aneighthgrader,diedunexpectedlylastnight.Atthispoint,wedonot

officiallyknowthecauseof(his/her)____________death.Deathisadifficultissueforanyone

todealwith.Evenifyoudidn’tknow____________________,youmightstillhavesomeemotional

reactionstohearingaboutthis.

Itisveryimportanttobeabletoexpressourfeelingsabout__________________’sdeath,

especiallyourlossandsadness.Wewantyoutoknowthatthereareteachersand

counselorsavailableinthelibraryallthroughthedaytotalkwithyouaboutyourreaction

to_______________’sdeath.Ifyouwanttotalkwithsomebody,youwillbegivenapasstogoto

thelibrarywherewehavepeoplewhowillhelpusthroughthisdifficulttime.”

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EndofDay1Announcement

Attheendofthefirstday,anotherannouncementtothewholeschoolpriortodismissalcanserve

tojointhewholeschoolintheirgrievinginasimple,non‐sensationalizedway.Inthiscase,itis

appropriateforthebuildingadministratortomakeanannouncementsimilartothefollowingover

theloudspeaker:

“Todayhasbeenasaddayforallofus.Weencourageyoutotalkabout_________________’sdeathwith

yourfriends,yourfamily,andwhoeverelsegivesyousupport.Wewillhavespecialstaffherefor

youtomorrowtohelpindealingwithourloss.Letusendthedaybyhavingthewholeschooloffera

momentofsilencefor_________________.”

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Day2Announcement

Ontheseconddayfollowingthedeath,manyschoolshavefoundithelpfultostartthedaywith

anotherannouncementbyeachteacherintheirhomeroom.Thisannouncementcaninclude

additionalverifiedinformation,re‐emphasizethecontinuingavailabilityofin‐schoolresourcesand

provideinformationtofacilitategrief.Here’sasampleofhowthisannouncementmightbehandled:

“Wenowknowthat________________’sdeathhasbeendeclaredasuicide.Eventhoughwemighttryto

understandthereasonsforhis/herdoingthis,wecanneverreallyknowwhatwasgoingonthat

madehim/hertakehis/herlife.Onethingthat’simportanttorememberisthatthereisneverjust

onereasonforasuicide.Therearealwaysmanyreasonsorcausesandwewillneverbeableto

figurethemallout.

Todaywebegintheprocessofreturningtoanormalscheduleinschool.Thismaybehardforsome

ofustodo.Counselorsarestillavailableinschooltohelpusdealwithourfeelings.Ifyoufeelthe

needtospeaktoacounselor,eitheraloneorwithafriend,tellateacher,theprincipal,ortheschool

nurse,andtheywillhelpmakethearrangements.

Wealsohaveinformationaboutthevisitationandfuneral.Thevisitationwillbeheldtomorrow

eveningatthe______FuneralHomefrom______pm.TherewillbeafuneralService_________at_____

am/pmat_______Church.Inordertobeexcusedfromschooltoattendthefuneral,youwillneedto

beaccompaniedbyaparentorrelative,orhaveyourparent’spermissiontoattend.Wealso

encourageyoutoaskyourparentstogowithyoutothefuneralhome.”

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Source:“School‐basedYouthSuicidePreventionguide,”publishedbytheDepartmentofChildandFamilyStudies,

DivisionofStateandLocalSupport,LouisdelaParteFloridaMentalHealthInstitute,UniversityofSouthFlorida,2003,

accessedatwww.fmhi.usf.edu/institute/pubs/bysubject.html

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SampleAnnouncementstoStudents,FacultyandStaffafteraDeath

Option#2

SampleLettertoStaff

Date:

To: All Staff

From: INSERT NAME OF SCHOOL Crisis Team

Re: INSERT NAME OF DECEASED

The recent death of (Insert Name) (has OR is expected to make) a significant impact on our entire school

community. Our crisis team has been mobilized to respond to this tragic event.

On (insert date), (Insert name of deceased)¹ (INSERT brief facts about the death)². We expect a variety of

reactions to this loss from our students, parents, and members of our staff. Some of these reactions may

be mild, others may be more intense.

To effectively assist all members of our school community, an emergency staff meeting will be held at

(Insert time) on (Insert date) in the (Insert place such as the cafeteria or other large area). At that time, our

crisis team will provide further details and answer questions. We will also discuss how to present the

information to our students. In the meantime, please refer all inquiries from outside sources to (Insert

name of the Media or Communication Coordinator).

With students, you can acknowledge that this death has occurred. However, please avoid discussion of

any details; simply tell students that the school staff will provide information to everyone shortly. Please

refer any student who appears to be in crisis or having significant difficulty to (Insert name of Counseling

Services Coordinator). As this tragedy has also affected our staff, we encourage you to also seek

assistance from (Insert name of Counseling Services Coordinator), if desired.

Emergency Staff Meeting

Time:

Date:

Location:

If you have any questions or concerns before the meeting, please contact (Insert name of Crisis Team

Coordinator).

Examples of information to insert in the opening paragraph:

¹John Smith, one of our 9

grade students; Mrs. Jones, who taught 7

grade English

²was killed in an automobile accident; died after a long-illness; died suddenly; died by suicide (before

inserting this information, be sure the immediate family is fine with this information being released)

SampleInformationforStudents

This information should be given to teachers and other staff to read to students at a designated

time to share with the entire student body (e.g., homeroom or first/second period)

It is with sadness that I tell you about a loss to our school family. On (INSERT date) (INSERT

name of deceased) (INSERT fact about the death).

I understand that many of you may have upsetting feelings and questions about (INSERT name

of deceased)’s death. I will try to answer any questions that I can. If you would like, we will take

the remainder of this class period to talk about what has happened. At times like this, it is okay to

have many different feelings, including sadness, anger, and disbelief. It is okay to cry. Together,

we can talk about whatever you may be feeling or want to talk about. If I cannot answer your

questions, or you would like to talk to someone privately, there are support rooms now available

(INSERT where support rooms are located). Anyone who would like to go to talk to someone in

the support rooms may do so now. I will give you a pass.

Determine which students would like to leave for a support room. Ask the remaining students if

they have any questions or comments they would like to share. Take time to answer and to talk as

the students’ desire.

If there is not lengthy discussion, consider quiet seat work rather than lesson plans as usual.

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Source:NationalCenterforSchoolCrisisandBereavement,http://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/svc/alpha/s/school-

crisis/letters-template.htm,accessedJanuary18,2010.