The occurrence of a student's suicide can leave a school struggling with grieving students, concerned parents, distressed school staff, media scrutiny, and a community seeking understanding. In such circumstances, schools require reliable information, practical tools, and sensible guidance to safeguard their students, effectively communicate with the public, and resume their primary focus on educating students.

In 2011, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) jointly crafted the "After a Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools" to aid educational institutions in navigating the aftermath of a suicide within the school community. This updated second edition incorporates new material and the latest information. The toolkit, reflecting the consensus recommendations from national experts, including school-based administrators, clinicians, researchers, and crisis response professionals, offers guidance and tools for postvention. Postvention encompasses activities aimed at helping individuals cope with emotional distress following a suicide, preventing additional trauma, especially among vulnerable individuals, and averting further suicidal behaviour and deaths. While primarily intended for administrators and staff in middle and high schools, this resource can also prove beneficial for parents and communities. However, users must consider developmental differences when applying the toolkit to respond to a death in a school, recognizing distinctions among elementary, middle, and high school students, as well as college students.

The toolkit covers crisis response, helping students cope, working with the community, working with the media, memorialization, social media, suicide contagion, and bringing outside help. It also offers various tools, templates, and resources.