Responding to a murder/suicide at a rural junior high school

After a murder/suicide at the Red Lion Junior High School in Red Lion, Pennsylvania, (the second critical incident in two years for this school district), our crisis response team provided critical incident stress management (CISM) services, response coordination and ongoing support to the students, teachers, parents and community of this small town. Our unique response team was a diverse blend of professionals from the school district, Pennsylvania State Education Association, school psychologists, and the local employee assistance program (EAP). Within eight days, the school population had moved beyond a horrifying critical incident to begin the process of recovery.