9.09 Following student suicides schools often react poorly, experts say, Medical News Today , Feb. 10, 2011

This article in Medical News Today features information about appropriate school responses to suicide from Darcy Haag Granello and Paul Granello, authors (with Gerald Juhnke) of the book Suicide, Self-Injury and Violence in the Schools: Assessment, Prevention and Intervention Strategies. “Without the proper knowledge and resources, many school administrators may implement strategies that could actually increase the risk of suicide among students,” said Darcy Haag Granello, who is a professor of counselor education at Ohio State University. Inappropriate responses might include public ceremonies and memorials, large assemblies, or other actions that could sensationalize the death. “Instead of focusing on the suicide itself, focus on what help is available and how people are responding to the grief,” said Paul Granello, who is an associate professor of counselor education at Ohio state. “The focus should be on the community response.” According to Darcy Granello, this doesn’t mean that teachers should not discuss suicide and mental health with students in appropriate settings, such as small groups or one-on-one. “Young people are already talking about suicide,” said Granello. “They are just talking about it with friends and others who don’t know any more than they do. We need to find ways to have the conversation with young people.”

Read the article at www.medicalnewstoday.com.