Jennings, Mary (2016) A qualitative study on the effects of a student suicide on the experienced teacher in secondary and adult education. Masters thesis, National University of Ireland Maynooth.

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Abstract

ii ABSTRACT Background: World Health Organisation figures indicate that suicide among the 0 -19 age group has increased in Ireland and has now become a major public issue. Aims: This study aims to determine the impact on educators who have been exposed to a death by suicide of a learner. Method: This is a qualitative study, with seven participants. Participants in the study were purposively selected because of their experience of this phenomenon. To date, educators have largely been neglected in studies on suicide. The lived experience of the event was recorded and the open-end questionnaire items were thematically analysed. Results: All participants reported to have been significantly affected by the death by suicide of a learner. Exposure to such a situation undermined their professional functioning and confidence in both their private and professional lives. Conclusions: The study illustrates that there is a range of impacts in the aftermath of a death by suicide of a learner in an educational community. This experience holds important educational significance. All participants reported that they would benefit hugely from appropriate training in the area of suicide and suicide ideation. The impact on the research participants was intense and they felt ill-equipped to deal with the trauma. They exhibited reactions consistent with the grief literature on bereavement.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Keywords:	M.Ed. in Adult and Community Education; M.Ed.; bereaved by suicide; adolescents; suicide ideation; grief; stigma; ritual;
Academic Unit:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Adult and Community Education
Item ID:	9631
Depositing User:	IR eTheses
Date Deposited:	04 Jul 2018 11:03
URI:
Use Licence:	This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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