Considering the alarming suicide rates among children and youth, school counselors have an ethical responsibility to support suicide survivors within the school community by engaging in suicide postvention following a student’s death. Yet there is limited research examining school counselors’ roles in crisis response following a student suicide. In this Consensual Qualitative Research study, we explored the experiences of 12 school counselors who shared their experiences of engaging in crisis response and postvention following a student death by suicide. Two domains and six categories emerged highlighting participants’ role in providing interventions supporting school and community survivors. We discuss implications including the need for suicide response protocols and the development of crisis manuals that are tailored to each school’s unique context.
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention & Suicide Prevention Resource Center. (2018). After a suicide: A toolkit for schools. 2nd ed.Education Development Center.
BecnelA. T.RangeL.RemleyT. P. (2021). School counselors’ exposure to student suicide, suicide assessment self-efficacy, and workplace anxiety: Implications for training, practice, and research. The Professional Counselor, 11(3), 327–339. https://doi.org/10.15241/atb.11.3.327
ChristiansonC. L.EverallR. D. (2008). Constructing bridges of support: School counsellors’ experiences of student suicide. Canadian Journal of Counselling, 42(3), 209–221.
7.
CoxG. R.BaileyE.JormA. F.ReavleyN. J.TemplerK.ParkerA.RickwoodD.BharS.RobinsonJ. (2016). Development of suicide postvention guidelines for secondary schools: A Delphi study. BMC Public Health, 16(180), 180. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-016-2822-6
8.
DiefendorfS.Van NordenS.AbrutynS.MuellerA. (2022). Understanding suicide bereavement, contagion, and the importance of thoughtful postvention in schools. In AckermanJ. P.HorowitzL. M. (Eds.), Youth suicide prevention and intervention (pp. 51–60). Springer.
9.
FineranK. R. (2012). Suicide postvention in schools: The role of the school counselor. Journal of Professional Counseling: Practice, Theory & Research Of Professional Counseling: Practice, Theory, and Research, 39(2), 14–28. https://doi.org/10.1080/15566382.2012.12033884
10.
FinlaysonM.Graetz SimmondsJ. G. (2016). Impact of client suicide on psychologists in Australia. Australian Psychologist, 53(1), 23–32. https://doi.org/10.1111/ap.12240
11.
GarrazaL. G.KuiperN.CrossW. F.HicksB.WalrathC. (2021). The effectiveness of active learning strategies in gatekeeper training on behavioral outcomes. Crisis, 42(5), 360–368. https://doi.org/10.1027/0227-5910/a000733
12.
GibbonsR.BrandF.CarbonnierA.CroftA.LascellesK.WolfartG.HawtonK. (2019). Effects of patient suicide on psychiatrists: Survey of experiences and support required. BJPsych Bulletin, 43(5), 236–241. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjb.2019.26
13.
HaysD. G.SinghA. A. (2023). Qualitative inquiry in clinical and educational settings (2nd ed.). Cognella.
14.
HillC. E. (2012). Consensual qualitative research: A practical resource for investigating social science phenomena. American Psychological Association.
15.
HillC. E.KnoxS. (2021). Essentials of consensual qualitative research. American Psychological Association.
16.
KolbD. A. (1983). Experiential learning: Experience as the source of learning and development. Prentice Hall.
17.
McAdamsC. R.FosterV. A. (2000). Client suicide: Its frequency and impact on counselors. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 22(2), 107–121.
18.
O’NeillJ. C.MarracciniM. E.BledsoeS. E.KnotekS. E.TaboriA. V. (2020). Suicide Postvention practices in schools: School Psychologists’ experiences, training, and knowledge. School Psychologist, 35(1), 61–71. https://doi.org/10.1037/spq0000331
19.
OwensE. C. (2014). An analysis of school-based suicide postvention protocols. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. UMI No. 3670200.
20.
PolandC.LiebermanR.NiznikM. (2019). Suicide contagion and clusters – part 1: What school psychologists should know. National Association of School Psychologists Communique, 47(5), 21–23.
21.
RuchD. A.BridgeJ. A. (2022). Epidemiology of suicide and suicidal behavior in youth. In AckermanJ. P.HorowitzL. M. (Eds.), Youth suicide prevention and intervention (pp. 3–12). Springer.
22.
RuchD. A.HeckK.M.SheftallA. H.FontanellaC.A.StevensJ.ZhuM.HorowitzL.M.CampoJ.V.BridgeJ.A. (2021). Characteristics and precipitating circumstances of suicide among children aged 5 to 11 years in the United States, 2013-2017. JAMA Network Open, 4(7). https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.15683
23.
SmithJ. A.FlowersP.LarkinM. (2022). Interpretative phenomenological analysis: Theory, method and research (2nd ed.). Sage.
24.
Stickl HaugenJ.WaalkesP. L.BurgessM.SwindleP. (2023). “It’s like losing a family member”: School counselors’ experience with student suicide. Journal of Counseling & Development & Development, 101(4), 449–460. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcad.12483
25.
Stickl HaugenJ.WaalkesP. L.LambieG. W. (2021). A national survey of school counselors’ experiences with student death by suicide. Professional School Counseling, 25(1), Article 2156759X2199380. https://doi.org/10.1177/2156759x21993804
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2024). National strategy for suicide prevention. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
28.
WilliamsD. Y.WexlerL.MuellerA. S. (2022). Suicide postvention in schools: What evidence supports our current national recommendations. School Social Work Journal, 46(2), 23–69.
