Following the Event
Long-Term Steps
Create a Long-Term Mental Health Plan
Develop a Plan for Ongoing Support
This may involve continued counseling or working with external agencies, such as outpatient clinics (if necessary) and ensuring students have a check-in plan for continued mental health care. The ARBEST Clinician Directory offers contact information of trauma-trained clinicians in Arkansas.
Maintain Ways to Communicate
Keep the lines of communication open between students, parents, and school staff to ensure that the student’s emotional and academic needs continue to be met.
Memorials or Reflection Spaces
If appropriate, create spaces or opportunities for students and staff to reflect on the trauma, honor those affected, and celebrate resilience. Always check with families before making plans. Consider scheduling memorials outside of school hours and off school grounds.
Anniversaries or Remembrances
Recognize significant dates related to the trauma in ways that foster reflection, collective healing, and remembrance. Be mindful of how major school events (e.g., graduation, parent-invited lunches, prom) may evoke emotions tied to the loss and ensure a consistent approach in how the school acknowledges different losses. Consistency helps prevent any one loss from appearing more important or impactful than another, which can unintentionally contribute to feelings of exclusion or hierarchy in grief (e.g., if a tree is planted in remembrance, schools should ensure they can sustain this type of response for all deaths).
Commemorate and Honor the Trauma’s Impact
At the same time, recognize that death by suicide may require special considerations due to their unique impact on students, staff, and the broader school community. While it is important to address these situations thoughtfully, ensure that responses do not unintentionally glorify or romanticize suicide, as this can increase risk for vulnerable students (e.g., naming an event after individual or creating a permanent memorial). Strive for a balanced approach that acknowledges the loss while promoting healthy coping, access to support, and prevention efforts.