Suicide Postvention: Providing Support After a Death by Suicide

Editor’s Note:

If you’re in an emergency situation, call 9-1-1. If this isn’t an emergency and MYgroup is your EAP/SAP, contact us at 1.800.633.3353. If you are facing a mental health crisis but MYgroup is not your EAP/SAP, call or text 9-8-8 to be connected to the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

During times of crisis making decisions can be difficult, so it’s best to have guidelines and a postvention team in place ahead of time. Recruit members of the team who can answer questions that need to be answered for any death that affects your organization such as:

• If the death occurs on property, who will notify law enforcement?
• Should we inform the entire organization? How will we inform them? Who will monitor social media and how?
• Who will contact the family and how will we support them?
• Who will attend the funeral to represent the organization?
• Will we do something in their memory?

There are some questions specific to a death by suicide:

• Who will confirm the death was a suicide and find out what information the family wants shared and keep all other information confidential?
• How do we modify our communication and response to decrease the risk of contagion?
• How do we identify who will be particularly affected and support them?
• How can we support our people now and on milestone occasions (e.g. birthday, death anniversary)?

Once you know who should be on the postvention team, meet to discuss the response process and practice some examples. Be sure your procedures include MYgroup at each stage for consultation and support.

How to Respond After a Suicide

Acute (first few days): Collaboration and Communication
Short-Term (first few weeks): Resources and Restoration
Long-Term (first year): Remember and Review

Acute: Collaboration

As soon as you become aware of a death by suicide, initiate the plan you prepared in advance by contacting your postvention team members. Also, reach out to MYgroup for in-the-moment support and to start the Critical Incident Response Services (CIRS) process.

MYgroup can help with messaging, handouts, and next steps. Our goal is to help you show leadership that is compassionate and competent. At this point, the focus is on promoting safety and stability rather than offering counseling.

Acute: Communication

The responsible team member(s) should contact the family of the deceased. In those conversations, they will gather information the family would like to share (e.g., whether it was a suicide), details about the funeral or memorial service, and whether they prefer flowers or donations. The team can also inquire about how the organization can help, such as providing meals or packing the deceased possessions. This process may require multiple contacts, as the family may not have all the answers right away.

The postvention team will also develop communication to share with the organizational system. Messaging should be provided promptly to counteract any potential rumors, even if all the details are not available yet; multiple announcements may be necessary.

Communication should also provide resources, as after a suicide some people may be susceptible to having suicidal thoughts and behaviors (known as the contagion effect). It is crucial to ensure that communication neither demonizes nor glorifies the death.

Additional considerations include saying “died by suicide” instead of “committed suicide” and avoiding providing unnecessary details about the death. Instead, focus on highlighting the positive contributions of the individual.

If possible, those closest to the deceased should be notified first, either individually or in small groups, preferably in person or over the phone rather than email.

MYgroup is available to advise on communication plans and can provide communication examples to help inform and care for employees, while respecting the deceased and his/her privacy.

Short-Term: Resources

The postvention team may continue to stay in touch with the family of the deceased to see how the organization can help them. The team can also inform the family that they are eligible for benefits, such as counseling and life assistance.

The postvention team should ensure that resources are readily available. This may include using MYgroup to provide access to a CIRS facilitator, who can be either virtual or onsite, in both group and individual meeting formats. Participation is always voluntary and confidential.

Sample communication is offered below:

Some of you may be having difficulty coping with the sudden loss of a member of our [Organization] family. We have arranged for our [employee, member, student, etc.] Assistance Program, MYgroup, to facilitate a gathering on [date and time] in the [room]. A counselor will be on hand to support us, both in a group setting and one-on-one. Attendance is voluntary and confidential; your absence will be excused. If you need to speak with someone immediately or would like a counseling referral, call MYgroup at 800.633.3353 anytime.

*Samples adapted from A Manager’s Guide to Suicide Postvention in the Workplace, p. 13-14

For a small percentage of people – particularly those closest to the deceased person, roommates, or those with prior trauma – more specialized care may be necessary, such as a referral to a provider through MYgroup. It’s important to keep an eye out for them and ensure they are connected with MYgroup.

Short-Term: Restoration

The loss of someone not only has a personal impact but also affects organizational functioning. In the immediate aftermath of the death, meetings or classes may be canceled and deadlines may be extended. It’s important to treat this situation similarly to other types of disruptions (e.g., disasters such as a house fire, illness) and avoid doing anything markedly different than what is done for other kinds of deaths.

In most cases, having social support at home and at the organization, along with timely access to a CIRS meeting, is enough for people to return to normal functioning within a short period of time.

The postvention team should decide when regular functioning should be restored. It is important to establish a healthy routine as soon as possible and with compassion.

Long-Term: Remember

It is important to honor the person who has passed away instead of dwelling on the manner of their death. The postvention team can plan how to acknowledge important dates such as anniversaries and birthdays, especially for those who are most affected by the loss. Consult with them on the best way to honor the memory and celebrate the person’s life, without romanticizing or glamorizing their death. You should avoid creating permanent memorials and instead provide a safe space (physical and/or emotional) for remembrance that does not cause people to focus on the means of the loss. As a organization, consider dedicating a day to remember all those who passed away from any cause during the year.

Long-Term: Review

Gather the team to review and update the postvention plan. Critically assess what went well and what did not and make necessary modifications. Though it is impossible to control every eventuality, experience is a good teacher.

Once the immediate response resolves, it is important to shift the focus from the past (postvention) to the future (prevention), which might involve a different team. The prevention messages should not imply that someone was at fault for not preventing suicide of the person who died.

What To Do After a Suicide Attempt

If someone in your organization attempts suicide and survives, there are some important things to consider when deciding how to prepare for their return. These include limiting the information to only those who need to know, helping the person decide what to say to others, and having a clear policy about the process for returning (e.g., using MYgroup’s formal referral process).

Self-Care

During times of crisis and loss, it’s important to prioritize your own self-care. Lean on your team instead of trying to handle everything alone. Reach out to MYgroup for confidential support. Your efforts in managing your stress can set a positive example for others in your organization. If you feel comfortable, openly acknowledge your own feelings of loss and discuss your coping strategies as a way of demonstrating healthy grieving.

Resources and References

A Guide to Suicide Postvention in the Workplace A Manager’s Guide to Suicide Postvention in the Workplace: 10 Action Steps for Dealing with the Aftermath of Suicide

After a Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools

Breaking the Silence in the Workplace: A Guide for Employers on Responding to Suicide in the Workplace

Responding to Grief, Trauma, and Distress After a Suicide: U.S. National Guidelines

Suicide Postvention at Work: What to Do After a Suicide Death

What Employers Need to Know About Suicide Prevention

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