Providing support following exposure to suicide: A mixed method study

Abstract

Exposure to suicide and the associated impacts for those left behind can be long lasting and traumatic. Literature has predominantly examined the experience of suicide and impact from the perspective of those closest to the deceased—with studies primarily focused on kin relationships. Appropriate and timely support delivered by skilled professionals, through the provision of postvention support, has been suggested as a way to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with exposure to suicide. The evidence regarding what support, for whom, and the timing of support is scarce. As an extension of this scarcity, there is minimal research examining the ways in which provision of this postvention (that is, support following exposure to suicide) support impacts workers. This paper explores service use data gathered to evaluate a nation‐wide Australian suicide postvention service, in conjunction with qualitative data from those providing postvention support to those exposed to suicide to understand who accesses support and the impact of providing such support on service providers. Postvention workers provide insight into the demands of responding to suicide, the pressure of being on call, and the ways in which they are able to maintain their well‐being through external supervision.

The Current Health and Wellbeing of the Survivors of the Rana Plaza Building Collapse in Bangladesh: A Qualitative Study

“…As a result of the psychological trauma experienced by the survivors, many reported ongoing thoughts of suicide and remain a potential risk of suicide in the future. Previous research supports the finding that traumatic events and symptoms of vulnerable psychological health such as depression, extreme grief, anxiety, and obstacles to leading a normal life, have the potential to lead to suicidal deaths [28,43,44,45]. This study further revealed that the Rana Plaza building lacked enough available safety exits and stairs, and the exits that were available were blocked by clothing materials limiting the number of people who could escape the building leading to an increase in loss of life.…”

What Is the Experience of Practitioners in Health, Education or Social Care Roles Following a Death by Suicide? A Qualitative Research Synthesis

“…The findings of this review demonstrate that postvention responses are needed for this population of practitioners. In contrast, a significant narrative in the postvention literature situates practitioners as the providers of postvention and support rather than as those who are impacted and potentially in need of support themselves [51,52]. Those who have been impacted by a suicide death are often identified in the role of ‘client’, that is, the person who will be supported by a practitioner.…”

Use of Health Services and Support Resources by Immediate Family Members Bereaved by Suicide: A Scoping Review

“…Gender balance in the studies is also lacking. Due to the overrepresentation of adult men committing suicide, there will be more bereaved women than men, and women tend to participate more than men in studies on suicide bereavement [ 22 , 45 , 100 ]. Erlangsen et al (2021) found that women in Denmark bereaved by suicide were less likely to be hospitalised for somatic disorders and see general practitioners, compared to the general population [ 45 ].…”