Sudden death of a classmate and friend - Adolescents' perception of support from their school

Following the accidental death of an 8th grade student, 26 classmates answe red questionnairies after one and nine months. In addition, a qualitative i nterview was carried out with half the class and six close friends after on e month. There was a strong positive endorsement of the school's response f ollowing the death. The students valued the opportunity to talk and take pa rt in ritual activities. However, close friends from outside the dead boy's class went largely unnoticed, and assistance based on a better understandi ng of the grief hierarchy and identification of those who continued to reac t are recommended in order to counteract long-term problems.