After students experience a traumatic event, group counseling is an effective tool to offset the effects of grief and distress. Following a school crisis, successful school-based intervention requires interdisciplinary coordination between school psychologists, counselors, school social workers, teachers, and administrative staff. Within a short…

Many people with learning disabilities are not well supported when someone close to them dies. This can make it an even more difficult time than it needs to be. This is about how staff can help people with learning disabilities when somebody close to them dies. It has some questions for them to think about. It is well documented that the death of…

Psychologists working in schools are often the first contacts for children experiencing a potentially traumatizing event or change in status. This article reviews basic concepts in crisis counseling and describes the components of psychological first aid. This form of counseling must be developmentally and culturally appropriate as well as…

"Professional" crisis caregivers (e.g., emergency responders, mental health providers, medical professionals, victim assistance counselors, and faith leaders) are trained to handle exposure to images of destruction and loss and to help victims or survivors cope with the impact of a crisis. They try to help individuals, schools, and communities…

Describes Critical Incident Stress Debriefing process (CISD) as model designed to mitigate impact of life-threatening crises on health care workers, to facilitate their return to routine functioning, and to prevent pathological responses to trauma that is inherent aspect of their profession. Examines development of CISD and explores its…

As staff, students, and parents at a Long Island high school discovered, resolving the complicated issues surrounding the death of a beloved teacher and coach is not easy. In this case, there was unwavering support for a basketball coach dying of cancer and for students and staff afterward. Crisis intervention worked because responsible adults…

Discusses the emotional impact of a stillbirth on a family. The Perinatal Mortality Counseling Program (PMCP) at Shands Teaching Hospital, Gainesville, Florida, provides crisis intervention and support for these families, as well as serving a research function. Outlines the program, including its history, composition, procedures, and research.…

Identifies diagnostic criteria for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and describes PTSD symptoms as possible student reactions to sudden, unexpected death by suicide or sudden loss from accidental or deliberate death. Reviews literature on PTSD. identifies phases of recovery, and describes brief strategic intervention for school counselors to…

An updated model for Classroom Crisis Intervention (CCI) including post-CCI activities is presented. CCI may be applied following various types of traumatic incident involvement and for the management of grief reactions. By promoting the idea that trauma responses are normal, CCI helps survivors regain optimism. (EMK)

This pamphlet, produced by the Suicide and Crisis Center (SCC) of Dallas, Texas, presents information about suicide and describes several SCC programs in six brief sections. The extent of the suicide problem is discussed, and indicators of suicidal intent are described; factors affecting suicidal people, such as emotional turmoil, constricted…

Parental death or divorce can have serious effects on children. It is important for adults and teachers to provide support and to be available to listen to the child on an age appropriate level. This paper describes the emotional impact of loss on children both when a marriage is ending and when a parent is seriously ill or is recently deceased.…