Talking With Students About Suicide
This resource provides guidance for school staff supporting planned and unplanned conversations about suicide as part of instruction or small group programming with students.
Why is thoughtful planning important when discussing suicide?
Talking about suicide—when positioned within wider mental health promotion and literacy efforts—can demonstrate care, reduce stigma, encourage help-seeking, and open the door to support.
Classroom or small-group discussions provide the safest format for addressing suicide and are strongly recommended over larger, assembly-style formats, as they allow for effective monitoring and student support.
When addressing the topic of suicide at a class-wide level, special attention needs to be given before, during, and after these conversations.
How might I use this resource?
This resource provides guidance to staff who may support planned conversations about suicide:
- As part of instruction (e.g., Gr. 9–12 Healthy Active Living Education; Gr. 10 Canadian History)
- In small-group programming
- When the topic comes up through plays, movies, literature, and/or works of pop culture
- As a topic selected by students (e.g., independent book study, scene study, monologue, etc.)
It is important to anticipate questions and potential areas of discussion that may arise in relation to this material, while always being mindful to include messaging that focuses on hope, coping, and help-seeking.
Stand-alone lessons on suicide in response to something in the media or a local death by suicide are not recommended. Be sure to position this topic within a wider mental health promotion and literacy context.
If your community has recently been impacted by a death by suicide or another tragic event, consult with your school administrator, your school’s mental health professional, or your board mental health leader, as there are additional considerations when planning conversations about suicide as part of a comprehensive postvention approach.
Public Health Agency of Canada. (2026, May 26). Suicide, self-harm and suicide-related behaviours in Canada: Key statistics. https://health-infobase.canada.ca/mental-health/suicide-self-harm/
Ontario Ministry of Education. Policy/Program Memorandum 169: Education in Ontario: Policy and Program Direction. https://www.ontario.ca/document/education-ontario-policy-and-program-direction/policyprogram-memorandum-169?redirect_id=page/supporting-minds-educators-guide-promoting-student-mental-health-and-well-being&redirect_year=2025
Mental Health Commission of Canada. Suicide Prevention & Life Promotion in Schools: A National Guide for System Leaders. https://mentalhealthcommission.ca/resource/suicide-prevention-life-promotion-in-schools-a-national-guide-for-system-leaders/