I don't think children should be coddled or overprotected, and humans are resilient and adaptive, but it's a myth that children are any "bouncier" than adults. Sometimes the phrase, "children are resilient" is used to mean that children are better able to cope than adults, and don't need the help an adult might (mostly as an excuse for the adult not to have to discuss or address difficult topics with children).

"Sink or swim," (ignore the problem and hope the child learns to deal with it) is one method of learning coping skills, but I don't think it's generally the best way. In many situations it is the only way, but alternatives are a good thing.

I guess what I should have said was that IF the kids didn't actually see anything then they are not likely to remember this happening (depending on their age, of course, but it is an elementary school so they are likely younger than 12).

I certainly didn't mean to minimize the tragedy witnessed by a couple of the posters here and I apologize if I did.

The thing is, even if just a few kids witnessed it (or overheard teachers) - the kid grapevine works fast (and embelishes the tales). Sometimes hearing about something can actually be worse than seeing it.

I remember when I was about 9, not knowing that I was listening, my aunt described to my mother, a television show that had given HER nightmares. In the movie an african witch doctor doll in a museaum had a tag that said not to remove. The main character removed it and the doll came to life and went after the main character with a big knife.

I'm not saying it scarred me for life, but I would periodically remember the story and have nightmares for years - well into adulthood. I finally saw the show that obviously was the one she was talking about. It wasn't even a whole movie, as I had assumed, it was from a show such as Tales from the Darkside, Twilight Zone, or Outer Limits. And it was the cheesiest, fakest, funniest thing I had ever seen. I had built it up so much in my mind, and if I had actually seen the movie, even at 9 I don't think it would have had such an impact.

It's hard to say whether one, two, or many kids would be impacted by such an occurence (and whether it would be from first hand experience, or an older child telling horror tales to the younger ones), but having counselors available "in case," seems like a sensible precaution.

I find suicide to be extremely selfish.

And traumatising for the people around. I remember a guy who shot himself in the bathroom in school when I was like 15.. that was so weird.

I found a dead body in a New York City train station not long after and the stench and the blood everywhere did not bother me as much as the sound of the gun going off.

I seriously doubt that poor soul was thinking about anything other then ending their pain. Believe me, I know the feeling. Prehaps they went to the playground cause it held good memories for them. I'm happy that your children's school is handling this so well and are offering counseling. A high school I went to had plenty of shootings and stabbings but we never got offered any type of counseling....but of course, it was in the ghetto so big surprise.