Appropriate school postvention programs can reduce potential cluster (copycat) suicides.  Unfortunately, many schools lack a preplanned postvention program and tend to respond to the aftermath of a student suicide in an unorganized and nonsystematic manner.  This type of unplanned action often exacerbates the trauma of the situation and results in additional hysteria on the part of the students and school staff.  This paper provides a review of the appropriate steps school professionals should carry out before a student suicide occurs and after a student suicide occurs.  These steps were developed based on a comprehensive review of the professional literature.  It is a hope that this information will assist school professionals in developing an effective and comprehensive postvention component within their overall school suicide prevention program. 
American Jounal of Health Studies. 1999;15(4):217-222.