Responding to suicide in the community

The impact of a suicide on a community can be devastating. The distress caused is often amplified when a suicide is high profile, or there is a perception that it has occurred as part of a 'cluster' of potentially linked suicides. 

Family, friends and communities bereaved by suicide can experience elevated mental illness and suicidal behaviours themselves. People can experience bereavement even if they did not know the person directly. In addition, there are known risks of distress and suicide contagion. Contagion refers to the process when one suicide or suicidal act increases the likelihood that others who know about it will attempt or die by suicide. 

These risks are particularly present in vulnerable groups such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, school-aged children, young adults and veterans. Those most at risk are identified as geographically, socially or psychologically close to the person who died by suicide, or those already experiencing risk factors for suicide.

What can organisations do to support people bereaved by suicide?

In the period immediately following a suicide, it is critical to prioritise addressing the immediate needs of those impacted. For many people, these needs will typically focus on accessing services, resources and information that can help them process their own feelings of grief and distress as well as build the confidence to recognise and respond to others who may need support. Resourcing and communication efforts should focus on meeting these needs.  

Some suicide prevention strategies may unintentionally exacerbate feelings of distress if employed at the wrong time. For example, people who are bereaved and undertake suicide prevention training, may experience feelings of guilt, or find the content triggering.  

Therefore, some longer-term prevention strategies such as mental health literacy and resilience building programs are postponed for a period. It is recommended that mental health trainings are not conducted for a period of 6months after a suicide death to allow time for the grieving process and space to focus on immediate support.  

How can managers support people bereaved by suicide?

• Check in regularly with the person to see how they are going.
• Establish what support would be helpful to them e.g. do they need time off work, adjustments to their workload/tasks?
• Be familiar with suicide and grief to understand what the worker is experiencing.
• Be patient—the grief process can take time.

What can you do if you are bereaved by suicide?

• Understand that a suicide can create a range of feelings. Find safe ways of expressing how you feel. 
• Care for yourself—eat well, get good sleep, exercise, minimise alcohol and substance use.
• Stay connected, accept help from others, offer help to others.
• Let yourself grieve, talk about what you are experiencing, participate in an activity that is meaningful to you (this could be personally, spiritually or culturally important).
• Ask for help. Consider talking to a counsellor or joining a suicide bereavement group.