L. Rowling et J. Holland, Grief and school communities: The impact of social context, a comparison between Australia and England, DEATH STUD, 24(1), 2000, pp. 35-50
This study investigated whether secondary schools in Australia and England
had a plan to manage traumatic incidents and to identify practice and progr
ams related to grief education and suicide intervention and prevention. Nin
ety-four percent of an Australian sample of 145 schools had such plans in p
lace, compared with only 15% of an English sample of 200 schools. Differing
policy contexts for grief, and the lack of teacher training and minimal ed
ucation about grief in England, were discussed as possible explanations for
the variation. It is concluded that a more proactive approach will only be
achieved when there is system-level policy and training support, as well a
s school and individual teacher recognition of their potential contribution
to young people's well being.