A death in the family is a catastrophic event even for adults. For students it may be the first exposure they have had to death. Thus if a student informs you of a death in their family you should speak to their guidance counselor and ensure that she or he knows of the loss. Also talk to the student to see if they are capable of doing the make-up work upon their return to school or if they are still too upset.
Let the student know the School Psychologist is available if they want to talk about the loss. Some students want to share their feelings and others do not. Let them know the resources available to them and check in every few days to ask how they are doing.
Encourage the student to remain involved in normal activities. Too often a loss brings on feelings of withdrawal. Help students understand that interacting with peers and joining in regular activities is an important step to regain emotional balance after a loss.
Give the student a journal or a theme book to use for writing. Writing is very therapeutic in times of crisis. Encourage them to keep a private journal about their feelings as they mourn the loss.
Watch students carefully for acting out behavior. Teenagers often don’t know how to handle the turbulent feelings that arise with a loss. Help them find a way to cope via alerting the Guidance Department of any unusual behavior that may indicate they are overwhelmed by the loss.
Try to keep handy a collection of books about tips to handle a loss written for teenagers. (You can often find them at garage sales for very little money). It is very helpful to give the student a book about loss to help them understand the grief process and know that they are not alone in their loss.
Keep a printed list of Internet resources for teens who are mourning a loss. Help your students find information websites and forums about the grieving process. Too often teenagers who have lost a parent or sibling feel very alone in their grief. The Internet provides many sites that help teens find others who have also had a recent loss in their family.
For more information about psychological issues go to the website of the American Psychological Association at www.apa.org.