How schools handle the death of
a student is important, as it affects the way teenagers deal with the
death of a fellow student. Death is never an easy situation for anyone, particularly
when it involves the unexpected death of a teenager.
How schools can help teenagers
deal with the death of a fellow student may include the following guidelines:
Announce the death
Family members and close
friends should be the first to be notified about the death of a student. Those
in authority should advise students about the death calmly, quietly and carefully. The students
may need immediate emotional support and guidance or want time to spend quiet
time alone.
Making a general announcement
of the death of a student is the responsibility of the principal or the person
in charge of the school, in his or her absence. A general announcement helps
students because there is no question about the fellow student’s death, which
some students may have a difficult time to believe or accept. Shock and
disbelief are common reactions.
Integrity and honesty with
respect to answering the questions of students
Initially, only the basic
information about the death of a student is necessary. Be aware that students
and others tend to react in different ways and will have different questions.
Integrity and honesty, with respect to responding to their questions, is
important.
A moment of silence
Scheduling a moment of silence on a specific day or at a certain time pays tribute to a student who has passed away and allows
other students the opportunity to focus on that student, as well as their
relationship with him or her.
Individual and group counseling
sessions
Grief counselors can help
students by conducting individual or group counseling sessions. These may or
may not include family members, depending upon their desires and the situation
or circumstances of the student's death. Dealing with grief stricken students
is the responsibility of principals, teachers, other more mature students, as
well as student advisers. Parents may need to become actively involved.
Stages of grief
Students can go through various
stages of grief when a fellow student dies, which is a normal reaction to death.
Some students may experience bouts of extreme sadness, regret or depression.
They may or may not be able to express their grief appropriately. Different
types of behavior may include unexpected outbursts of tears, withdrawal from
others or open expressions of anger including violence. Having to cope with unexpected
loss of a fellow student is never easy.
Support groups
Forming support groups can
prove instrumental in helping large numbers of students to deal with the death
of a fellow student. An attitude of caring, concern and compassion is important
for the leaders of support group sessions. Active participation by all students
should be encouraged.
Student memorial service
Conducting a student memorial
service in a school setting or a nearly church, can prove beneficial to
students dealing with the death of a fellow student. It may be possible or
advisable to encourage student participation, so that they are actively engaged
in doing something positive and constructive. Different expressions of music or
art can be excellent ways to acknowledge the death of a fellow student.
Celebration of life of a
student who has died
There may be ways to celebrate
the life of a student who has died including high school concerts or other
kinds of projects, like annual fundraisers for specific causes including
illnesses or social disorders like substance or alcohol abuse. Paying online, social media tributes or starting long-term memorial projects to raise funds
for research and awareness, could prove to help others in the future.
Many schools encourage specific
memorial projects on an annual basis, in order to help students who have
suffered the loss of a fellow student. This will help students to realize that
their live are important. Students often find comfort knowing a fellow student
who has passed away, will be remembered.
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