Classifies the reactions of ward staff found during a retrospective study following patient suicides as follows: “professionals” who objectively analyzed information & accepted suggestions, “projectors” who passed the buck, “fatalists”, “deniers” who could not admit that the death resulted from suicide, “pollyannas” who rationalized by stating that the death was for the best, “ultrarightists” who debated the morality of suicide, & “intellectualizers” who shifted the blame to external factors.