High Risk for Complicated Grief

Factors Which Indicate High Risk for Complicated Grief

1. High-risk people need to be identified and offered help. These people include anyone who:
1. Participated in any way with a suicide or accident.
2. Knew of the suicide attempt or potential attempt and didn't try to stop it.
3. Feels guilty about things they said or did to the deceased prior to the death.
4. Had recently punished or threatened to punish the deceased for some misdeed; did not take a suicide threat seriously, or had been too busy to talk to a victim who asked for help.
5. Were relatives, best friends, self-appointed therapists; were mentioned in a suicide note.
6. Identifies with the victim's situation; has a history of suicidal threats or attempts; is desperate and now considers suicide a viable alternative.
2. Check in with students who would be considered to be high risk for complicated grief reactions on a regular basis, particularly at high-risk times. High-risk times include: anniversaries of a previous death, birthdays, holidays, expected graduation date, etc. of the deceased student, and the high-risk student's own birthday.