Postvention for suicide: immediate responses

Hearing that someone from a workplace has died by suicide can have a significant impact on colleagues, customers, contractors and clients. Some may struggle with unanswered questions about what happened and may experience guilt that they could have done more to help. It is important to respond in a way that supports the needs of those affected. 

Having a postvention plan in place to respond to a suicide in or out of the workplace will reduce the negative impacts for workers and the workplace, and support others who are impacted. Every organisation’s postvention plan will be different. 

Some key actions to respond to suicide are outlined below. 

If a suicide happened at work

• Dial 000 for police and an ambulance.
• Ensure the immediate safety of other staff and any other people present at the time.
• Reinforce availability of support to other staff.
• Nominate a staff liaison person.
• Communicate with human resources.
• Contact the relevant workplace regulator.
• Work with family to collect the worker’s personal belongings. 
• Respect the privacy of the worker’s family.

There are things your workplace can do to support the co-workers, friends and families of someone who attempted or died by suicide. Share only confirmed information, respect people’s privacy, and provide support services for co-workers. 

If a suicide happened away from work

• Confirm facts with the family and/or police where appropriate. Request clarification around sharing information.
• Nominate a staff liaison person.
• Communicate with human resources.
• Work with family to collect the worker’s personal belongings.
• Respect the privacy of the worker’s family.
• Respect the privacy of those seeking assistance or support because of the death.

Offer immediate support to workers one to one or in small groups to monitor reactions

• Inform those directly impacted individually and face to face where possible. Keep in mind that those impacted may not work onsite but may have interacted with the deceased worker e.g. contractors, former workers, delivery drivers. 
• Create a plan to support colleagues who may be affected by the incident, including what sources of support are available and how they are accessed.
• Share a consistent message with all workers, using safe, inclusive language. See Mindframe’s guidelines for communicating about suicide.
• Share confirmed information, though remove details relating to method (of suicide) and location. This will help avoid hearsay, and discussions of how someone died can increase distress. 
• Check in and have a conversation with colleagues. For some, these check-ins may need to be ongoing. 
• Promote access to support services, such as your organisation’s Employee Assistance Program or recommend any one of the services listed on the Urgent Help page. 
• Provide a quiet space for workers to gather should they wish to.
• Be aware that workers may have diverse beliefs/customs relating to bereavement and accommodate them. 

Getting help 

To help you respond in a way that’s supportive to others, it can be useful to know what services and resources are available to you and your colleagues. Gathering this information in advance can help prepare you to respond quickly and immediately after a traumatic event.

If you or someone close to you is in immediate danger, dial 000 as soon as possible. There is also a list of support services available on the Urgent Help page.