Scenarios for Practice and Discussion
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Activity: Practice Scenarios
Ask participants to work in pairs or small groups. Give each small group one of the scenarios in Handout 2.1: Scenarios for Practice and Discussion (No Responses) to either role-play or discuss how they might respond and offer support to the student in the scenario.
These scenarios give participants the chance to apply what they’ve learned about helping other students and think about what to say to students in different situations. This is a chance for participants to think through how to express their care and concern for this person and offer support and any further resources that seem appropriate. It is also an opportunity to practise asking the question, Are you thinking about suicide? It is a difficult question to ask, and having a chance to say it out loud and practise will help participants build confidence.
It’s unlikely you’ll have time to look at all of the scenarios, but you can choose the scenarios that best match participants’ interests and concerns.
Questions to discuss:
- How might you respond and offer support to the person?
- What services might you suggest?
- Who might you consult with?
- How does it feel to imagine offering support to the student in the scenario?
- How was it to ask about suicide?
After participants have discussed at least one of the scenarios, discuss as a large group. You can share Handout 2.2: Scenarios and Responses with participants. If you don’t have time for practice and discussion, try to allow some time to briefly review some of the responses.
Online
If your video-conferencing software allows you to create breakout rooms, you can have people work together in smaller groups in breakout rooms to discuss the scenarios. You could share the scenarios in the chat and then assign each group to read a specific one to discuss. Alternatively, you could move from room to room and verbally provide the scenario.
Options for Scenarios
Scenario 1: Acquaintance grieving over death of their sibling
You’re waiting at the bus stop near campus when you notice another student who you’ve taken a few classes with. You don’t know them very well, but you enjoyed working on a group project with them once. You remember hearing that this student was fundraising to help pay for expenses related to their sibling’s cancer treatments last year. They start to say “fine” but then their face crumples and tears fill their eyes. They tell you that their sibling passed away. They say that their family is devastated, and nothing will ever be the same again. Then they tell you that they feel bad for their parents but think they might join their sibling. Just then the bus arrives.
Key points
- Don’t let the moment pass because you are interrupted.
- Express sympathy and support without relying on clichés and while recognizing you c