Abstract

This study aimed to identify the factors that helped and hindered secondary school teachers who experienced student suicide using the concept-mapping approach. Seven South Korean middle and high school teachers were interviewed from which 113 core statements were elicited. The participants sorted these core statements into categories by meaning. Multidimensional scaling and hierarchical cluster analysis were conducted to identify the underlying structure of the teachers’ experiences. Four hindering factor clusters emerged: (1) regret over failing to prevent the suicide, (2) an apathetic atmosphere in the school, (3) a sense of helplessness related to suicide survivors, and (4) approach-avoidance conflicts related to suicide survivors. Six helpful factor clusters emerged: (1) cooperation and care offered between suicide survivors, (2) focusing on the present, busy life, (3) spiritual activity, (4) social support, (5) overcoming grief through altruistic behaviors, and (6) sympathy for the deceased. Two dimensions were found for both the hindering and helpful factors. The hindering factor dimensions were external systeminternal experiences and related to suicide survivorsrelated to suicide decedents. The helpful factor dimensions were distancing from the lossapproaching the loss and professional activitiespersonal activities. The present study empirically explored and described the underlying structure of teachers’ bereavement experiences after student suicides.