Although a comment relating
to a desire
to die of course might not be indicative of suicidal intentions or even distress, you or another professional need
to talk with the
student to find out if that is the case.
If one of your
students has communicated, orally or in writing, his desire
to die, take him aside as soon as possible and
talk with him.
PS: also on the point about «a number of small practitioners are
dying to have an articling
student, but the applicants are reluctant
to relocate
to remote or rural locations where these practices are located» — my sense from
talking to the numerous
students in my graduating class alone that are looking for articles, there are plenty of capable and eager graduates looking for articles that are open
to such positions if they know about them.