Postvention for suicide: longer-term responses

Often our co-workers can feel like an extended family, so it is no surprise that hearing of a co-worker or colleagues’ death can impact us significantly and for a prolonged period. So it helps to have a plan to support those affected. By being proactive, you can help people heal and process the loss.

Ongoing support 

Grief affects everyone differently, and it is not a linear process. If an individual worker has taken leave after a suicide death of a colleague, when they return, tailor your support to meet their needs. If possible, create a return-to-work plan in collaboration with them before they return. 

It can take time for people to recover from a co-worker attempting or dying by suicide. Be aware of triggers and anniversaries.

A few things to remember are: 

• Check in regularly and have a conversation.
• Ask people what support they need and let them know what support you can offer.
• Make adjustments to suit their needs—do they need time off? Should you adjust their workload or hours? Consider creating a bereavement policy that formalises these supports.
• Ask workers how they would like to remember their deceased colleague. 
• Provide access to support services, such as an Employee Assistance Program or recommend any one of the services listed on the Urgent Help page. 
• If a death has occurred within the workplace, consult with workers and arrange for support.
• Those who were particularly close to the deceased may need additional support. But even people who did not know or get on well with the deceased may still feel the impact of the death.
• If appropriate, choose someone to act as a liaison with the family to organise the workplace’s expression of sympathy, cards, flowers, food or financial support.

Managing triggering events

It is important to proactively consider events which may lead to distress. Here are some things to consider: 

• What sorts of situations may trigger a memory of the event? Who might be most impacted? 
• How can the triggering events be pre-empted and addressed?

Managing anniversaries

Does your work have a bereavement policy? A bereavement policy can state:

• for how long your workplace might ‘officially’ commemorate an anniversary
• how to support close team members of the colleague who died
• how long to support those who did not know the individual.

Getting help 

To help you support others, it can be useful to know what services and resources are available to you and your colleagues. Knowing this can help you plan for traumatic events. 

If you or someone close to you is in immediate danger, dial 000 as soon as possible. Additional support services are available on the Urgent Help page.