Guidelines to assist in responding to attempted suicide or suicide by ...

Section G: Sample documentsand advice for staffMemo/e-mail from central or regional office toschool communitiesDear PrincipalYou and your school counsellors/senior leaders need to be aware thatthere may be some information circulating amongst students related to the(attempted) suicide today of a Year … boy/girl in a north/south/east/westsuburbs DEECD/Catholic/Independent school. The connections betweenyoung people are widespread and rapid and there is the chance that thisincident may affect your community in some way.Please consider the possible impact of this on vulnerable students you arecurrently supporting.If you need any further information, please contact …A nominated IMT member must liaise with the family to ascertain their feelingsabout communication within the school community. Situations will vary andschools should seek support from their regional office about this important areaof postvention responsibility.Script for use by school staff to inform the generalstudent population of the suicide of a studentToday/yesterday the school was given the very sad news that on ... one ofour Year ... students died. The school community is thinking of the student,his/her family and his/her friends. Some students in our school, particularlyhis/her friends will find this news very difficult to understand and accept.Other students—not just close friends—are also likely to be upset perhapsbecause it reminds you of another sad event in your own life.The student support service officers/school chaplain/primary welfare officer/student wellbeing coordinator/social worker/school counsellors will beavailable to assist individual students. A notice is going home today toinform your parents about the death.If you need to leave school early, or you are absent from school, we requestthat you use existing school procedures to advise of your absence fromschool.If you are approached by anyone asking for information about the student’sdeath please tell them they should speak with Ms/Mr ...We request that you be sensitive and respectful of other people’s feelingsduring this difficult period. We also encourage you to look out for eachother and report any concerns that you may have about a particular studentto a teacher or parent.If you have any questions about the information contained in this notice,please speak with …Guidelines to assist in responding to attempted suicide or suicide by a student43