Professional Response to Suicide
Survivors of Suicide Loss Support Group - Madison, NJ
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Many different professionals are called upon to provide support and assistance after a suicide or suicide attempt. The following is a collection of information useful to those professionals in helping survivors of suicide as well as helping the professional responders themselves.
Help for Professionals Dealing With Suicide Loss
You are the first people called when a suicide occurs or is discovered. Your early actions and support for those bereaved by the loss of their loved one to suicide will leave a lasting impression. Your actions and choice of words towards those who are likely in shock can provide them comfort and healing.
First Responders (LEO, Fire and EMS) Assistance for Suicide Loss
First Responders (LEO, Fire and EMS) Assistance for Suicide Loss
The first on the scene of a suicide loss are often the traditional first responders: Law Enforcement Officers (LEO), Police (PD), Fire Department (FD) or Emergency Medical Service (EMS). In addition to dealing with what is initially treated as a crime scene, they need to provide support and comfort to the suicide survivors. Some survivors have not only discovered the body of their loved one, they may have also witnessed the actual suicide event. Below are some documents and articles to assist you in providing support and assistance to those touched by suicide.
A Guide for Early Responders Supporting Survivors Bereaved by Suicide
Resource: 20 page PDF
Summary: Early responders play a vital role in supporting people who have lost someone they care about, someone they know who has died by suicide. Suicide loss is profoundly different than other loss and grief in that it is a intentional act that can have crippling effect
The Role of Law Enforcement Officers in Preventing Suicide
Resource: 10 page PDF
Summary: The purpose of this sheet is to help law enforcement officers learn how to identify and respond to people they serve who are suicidal or have attempted suicide.
Suicide Loss First Aid: How Police Officers Can Assist Suicide Survivors
Resource: Webpage
Resource: 2 page PDF
Resource: Website
Summary: Police Suicide Prevention Program
Resource: Webpage
Summary: CARE and SUPPORT for Law Enforcement Suicide Survivors and Suicide Prevention Training for Law Enforcement.
Firefighters Coping With The Aftermath of A Suicide
Resource: 11 minute Video
Summary: “AAS is proud to be affiliated with this effort to recognize and mediate the impact of suicide on firefighters, as first-finders. We hope this video helps the healing that must come after such a loss,” said Alan L. Berman, PhD, Executive Director of the American Association of Suicidology.
Emergency Responders Management of Patients Who May Have Attempted Suicide
Resource: Article
Summary: EMS professionals' role in managing patients at risk for suicide or who have attempted suicide is critical: "To the regard that someone has not already carried out a fatal act, EMS professionals play an extraordinarily important role in helping to have an emergency intervention or a rescue occur and transporting the patient to a medical or mental health facility."
Resource: Article
Summary: An EMSWorld article about By having a basic understanding of some of the methods involved in suicide attempts, you will be better prepared to respond to such calls. The ability to provide appropriate treatment may be key in reducing morbidity and mortality associated with suicide attempt scenarios.
Resource: Article
Summary: An EMSWorld article about how first responders can provide postvention "First Aid"
New Jersey Emergency Medical Services Psychological Support Guidelines
Resource: 7 page PDF
How Can Emergency Responders Manage their Own Response to a Traumatic Event?
Resource: 2 page PDF
Summary: Addressing the emergent psychological needs of others during a traumatic event can be a draining experience. Working with individuals who are in acute emotional distress requires an intensity that, for the provider, is both mental and physical. It is imperative that you consider your own state of mind prior to engaging in the provision of ATSM.
First responders' trauma intervention resource toolkit
Resource: 20 page PDF
Summary: First responders—paramedics, firefighters, police—are considered to be at greater risk for Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) than most other occupations. This is because their everyday duties routinely encounter “traumatic stressors”
First Responders: Behavioral Health Concerns, Emergency Response, and Trauma
Resource: 15 page PDF
Summary: The purposes of this publication are to discuss the challenges encountered by first responders during regular duty as well as following disasters; shed more light on the risks and behavioral health consequences (such as PTSD, stress, and depression) of serving as a first responder; and present steps that can be taken to reduce these risks either on the individual or institutional levels.
A Guide to Managing Stress In Crisis Response Professions
Resource: 40 page PDF
The following materials have been developed and copyrighted by NAMI New Jersey, and are available free of charge to any individual or agency. We ask that you contact Phil Lubitz, NAMI NJ Associate Director, at plubitz@naminj.org or (732) 940-0991 before downloading this material and let us know how you will be using it.
Police Response to Mental Illness Crisis
Resource: 12 page training PDF
Resource: Speaker's handbook
Resource: 1 page PDF NAMI NJ Do and Don’t Card for Law Enforcement Education
Summary: Tips and guidelines for law enforcement officers when dealing with a mental illness crisis situation.
Mental Illness: What it is, what it isn’t. How to deal with people who have it
Resource: 38 page Powerpoint Presentation
Summary: Training presentation by NAMI NJ for law enforcement officers
Religious Leaders Assistance after a Suicide
Religious Leaders Assistance after a Suicide
Often the second group people of people that are involved with supporting and assisting the survivors of suicide loss next are Religious Leaders. Religious leaders such as Priests, Pastors, Rabbis are called to help the emotional and spiritual needs of those who have had their lives touched by suicide. It is a moment of crisis for many, their faith will be shaken and their beliefs challenged. They will be confused about how their faith actually deals with suicide.
What Clergy Need to Know About Suicide Loss How to Help After a Suicide
Resource: 18 page PDF
Summary: Suicides may not occur every day in your community, but you may be involved in the aftermath of one, if this has not already happened. Your responsibilities may:
Put you at the scene of a recent suicide
Require you to call on congregants who have experienced a suicide loss
Call for you to notify a family about the loss of a loved one to suicide or
Have you accompany a congregant to identify the body of a family member
Recommendations for Religious Services & Other Public Memorial Observances
Resource: 13 page PDF
Summary: These recommendations were created to aid members of the clergy and other community and faith leaders as they care for those who have survived the loss of a loved one due to suicide and to assist them in helping to plan a memorial observance. This document provides background information, suggests ways to care for and support survivors, offers recommendations for planning memorial services, and lists additional resources.
The Role of Faith Communities in Suicide Prevention: A Guidebook for Faith Leaders
Resource: 25 page PDF
Summary: The purpose of this guidebook is to prepare leaders of faith communities to prevent, intervene and respond to the tragedy of suicide. The concept for this guidebook grew out of an increasing understanding that suicide affects a significant number of people in all walks of life and that people often turn to their faith communities in times of crisis.
Aiding Suicide Survivors A Guide for Funeral Directors and Clergy
Resource: 5 page PDF
Summary: This booklet is designed to guide funeral directors and members of the clergy, who are often first responders, in helping survivors of suicide cope with their loss.
A Homily for a Young Man Who Died by Suicide
Resource: Blog Post
Summary: A homily by a Roman Catholic Priest for a suicide victim
Resource: Blog Post
Summary: A sermon by a Lutheran Pastor from a suicide funeral
When Someone Takes His Own Life
Resource: 1 page PDF
Summary: Article by Norman Vincent Peale about suicide with ideas for eulogy or homily.
Coping with a Suicide Catholic Teaching and Pastoral Response
Resource: 29 page PDF
Summary: Although not a comprehensive source on suicide, this booklet attempts to help survivors, and those who are concerned about them, with some of the questions and doubts that commonly arise in the attempt to come to terms with bereavement by suicide.
Roman Catholic Funeral Readings – Ordinary Time
Resource: 56 page PDF
Summary: The selection of passages from the Bible is an important part of planning a funeral ceremony, as we want to turn to God's word for wisdom and comfort in this time of loss. The Word of God is at the heart of our Christian celebration of faith in this funeral rite in anticipation of the resurrection of the body.
Archdiocese of Boston A Guide For Preparing Funeral Liturgies
Resource: 70 page PDF
Summary: When we suffer the passing of a loved one or face the certainty of our own death, the Church's funeral rites provide a place where we can grieve, remember, face our fear, give thanks, celebrate, and above all connect our personal human experience to that of the believing community and to the story of Jesus.
Suicide By Rabbi Kassel Abelson
Resource: 11 page PDF
Summary: An enlightened Rabbinical discussion of Suicide and the Jewish faith. " Suicide, “taking one’s own life”, is forbidden by Jewish law, for only God who has given life may take it. Though the early Halakhah denied the suicide the usual burial and mourning rites, the trend of Halakhic development was to find a reason to treat the ritual for a suicide like the ritual for any other death. For the sake of the survivors the mourning ritual involving the family may be performed. The “suicide” of a katan (child) is always considered evidence of less mental capacity, and full rites are permitted. A history of mental illness is prima facie evidence, that the taking of one’s life was due to diminished mental capacity. In fact any reason is deemed sufficient to decide that a suicide is without full and complete mental capacity, or the result of temporary insanity. A suicide is to be treated like any other death, with the right of burial in the cemetery, and the same ritual of mourning.
The Healing Power of Saying Kaddish for a Suicide
Resource: 11 page PDF
Summary: This article will provide an overview of Jewish law on mourning a suicide while exploring in more depth the issues involved with saying Kaddish for someone who has taken his or her own life.
Funeral Directors Assistance for Suicide Survivors
Funeral Directors Assistance for Suicide Survivors
For those that do not have an established faith, the Funeral Director is often the next contact. Funeral Directors are called upon to handle the body of the deceased, but also to help the family decide what is the appropriate way to remember the deceased. The survivors of suicide loss are often ashamed or feel guilty about the suicide and may want to hide the truth about the circumstances of the death.
Supporting Survivors of Suicide Loss: A Guide for Funeral Home Directors
Resource: 16 page PDF
Summary: In your close role with survivors of suicide loss in the immediate aftermath, you play a vital and powerful role. And in partnership with other early responders, including clergy and law enforcement, you can lessen the leveling blow that families are dealt when they lose a loved one to suicide. SPAN USA and SPRC, have collaboratively partnered to produce and disseminate this guide.
Information For Funeral Directors
Resource: 3 page PDF
Summary: These suggestions are intended to assist funeral directors as they care for family/friends that have lost a loved one due to suicide as they plan their memorial. Though it isn’t possible to answer all questions, it is hoped that these recommendations can help promote healing and help prevent future deaths by suicide.
Aiding Suicide Survivors A Guide for Funeral Directors and Clergy
Resource: 5 page PDF
Summary: This booklet is designed to guide funeral directors and members of the clergy, who are often first responders, in helping survivors of suicide cope with their loss.
Writing the Obituary: Where to Start
Resource: Webpage
Summary: One of the most difficult decisions a family has to make after the death of a loved one is what to include in the obituary. Historically, suicide was not mentioned as a cause of death, but, in recent times, as our understanding of depression and mental illness has increased, more and more families have chosen to disclose the fact that their loved one died by suicide. The decision to disclose suicide in an obituary is deeply personal.
How Do I Write an Obituary when my Loved One Died by Suicide?
Resource: 2 page PDF
Summary: Brochure from Ontario Funeral Association
Don't Omit from the Obit: Can honesty in obituaries help prevent suicide?
Resource: Article
Summary: From Psychology Today: "As long as we disguise deaths by mental illness, we perpetuate a disease that kills. I understand why people mask suicide. Some religions won't bury their dead if the surviving family is honest about the cause of death. Often life insurance policies have exemptions for suicide. Shame plays a role. Social standing must be protected. Families are hurt and want privacy. No one wants the blame for death or to have her family dynamic scrutinized as the reason."
Resources for Survivors of Suicide - Writing An Obituary After Suicide Loss
Resource: Webpage
Summary: After a suicide death, one of the first big decisions a family will make is what to include in an obituary. Historically, suicide was never mentioned as the cause of death in an obituary (unless it was a very public person). More recently, some families have chosen to mention that the person died by suicide.
Resource: Webpage
Summary: People who have been bereaved by suicide face many questions during a time of unimaginable grief, misplaced guilt and 'what ifs.' One of the hardest may be how to explain what is most often referred to simply as a “sudden” death. Increasingly, though, it seems that many parents, spouses and children of those who take their own lives are opening up about the cause of death. Here are some ways to consider opening up.
Suicide: Planning a Memorial Service
Resource: Webpage
Summary: There are few people whose lives have not been touched by suicide. The first time I conducted a memorial for a person who chose death, I became aware of how important it is to name the circumstances of suicide and make space for the feelings that accompany that..
Schools and Teachers Assistance for Suicide Support
Schools and Teachers Assistance for Suicide Support
When the suicide death is a student or a faculty member it is important that the entire school system respond appropriately. There is an opportunity to discuss suicide prevention and to also help remove the stigma associated with mental health issues.
After a Suicide: A toolkit for Schools
Resource: 76 page PDF
Summary: The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC), two of the nation’s leading suicide prevention organizations, have collaborated to produce this toolkit to assist schools in the aftermath of a suicide (or other death) in the school community.
Guidelines for Responding to The Death of a Student or Faculty
Resource: 7 page PDF
Summary: These guidelines are designed to help school administrators, teachers, and crisis team members respond to the needs of students and staff after a loss has impacted the school environment, such as after the death of a student or staff member or when deaths occur that affect many people in the community.
Standards Manual A Guide for a School's Response in the Aftermath of Sudden Death (Fourth Edition)
Resource: 101 page PDF
Summary: Despite all efforts to keep children and youth safe and healthy, tragic events happen. This manual will help you prepare for such a tragedy in your school. We believe that good advance planning can reduce the negative impact of a tragedy on youth and those who live and work with them. Therefore, STAR-Center recommends that school districts, working closely with their community resources, prepare for tragedies by developing policies and procedures that may be activated on very short notice.
Responding to Suicide in the School Setting
Summary: Training for schools by The Dougy Center
Resource: 43 page training PDF
Memorials After a Suicide Guidelines for Schools and Families
Resource: 5 page PDF
Summary: When a school community experiences the death of a student, there is often the very human tendency to want to do something in memory of the deceased student. These memorials can range from spontaneous tributes piled at lockers or parking spaces to more permanent, lasting tributes like placing plaques in halls or planting trees or gardens in the student’s name. There may also be ceremonies or assemblies that bring together members of the school community to share memories and grieve together.
POSTVENTION: A Guide for Response to Suicide on College Campuses
Resource: 28 page PDF
Summary: By the Higher Education Mental Health Alliance. This resource is intended for use by colleges and universities that are affected by and/or want to be prepared for campus crises and campus deaths.
Resource: 5 page Article
Summary: National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement Nearly every principal will be faced with the death of a student or faculty member during his or her career. How schools respond to a death can either help or hinder the healing process, and the principal sets the tone for the level of assistance that is provided following a death at school
Dealing with Grief in the School An Administrator’s Guide
Resource: 2 page PDF
Summary: When loss occurs in the workplace, we may notice certain behavioral or emotional changes in ourselves and in work colleagues. During this time of uncertainty, staff typically displays a number of different signs and symptoms. These symptoms can result in decreased productivity and focus in the workplace.
After a Suicide: Answering Questions and Assisting Students
Resource: 4 page PDF
Summary: The aftermath of a youth suicide is a sad and challenging time for a school or a community. The major tasks for suicide postvention are to help youth manage the understandable feelings of shock, grief and confusion and to prevent further suicides.
Suicide Loss: What Schools Should Know
Resource: 34 page PDF
Summary: This presentation is an overview of the nature of suicide and suicide loss to help schools, parents, and the community to better understand the aftermath of a school-related suicide and how to respond to such an occurrence. It centers on the immediate circumstances and needs after the loss.
Helping Children Cope With Loss, Death, and Grief Tips for Teachers and Parents
Resource: 4 page PDF
Summary: National Association of School Psychologist
The Relationship Between Bullying and Suicide: What We Know and What it Means for Schools
Resource: 10 page PDF
Summary: Brochure from the CDC. The purpose of this document is to provide concrete, action-oriented information based on the latest science to help you improve your schools’ understanding of and ability to prevent and respond to the problem of bullying and suicide related behavior.
Lifeline Online Postvention Manual
Resource: 10 page PDF
Summary: When implementing postvention strategies in a community or school, it is important to also consider the role of the internet and to ensure that postvention initiatives also target existing online communities. This is especially important when the deceased is between the ages of 15 and 24, as data indicates this age group is very active online.
Website Posting Template:School/Community Response to Suicide
Resource: 5 page PDF
Summary: Tips from Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care about the different type of responses to expect.
Statement for Social Media Sites
Resource: 1 page PDF
Summary: Tips from Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care about how to address a suicide on social media.
Media Guidelines for School Administrators Who May Interact with Reporters about Youth Suicide
Resource: Webpage
Summary: Research has demonstrated potentially harmful effects of some types of news coverage about suicide on vulnerable individuals in the community. There is evidence of an increase in suicidal behavior, especially among youth, following prominent news coverage of a suicide. This behavior may result in multiple suicide attempts and completions. It is referred to as suicide copycat behavior. It is very important to address this concern with representatives of the media and to describe how responsible reporting can help reduce the risk of copycat suicides.
Suicide Postvention Talking Points
Resource: 3 page PDF
Summary: Suicide Postvention Talking Points (And there is permission from the family to talk openly about cause of death)
Sample Letter for Parents - Suicide is Confirmed
Resource: 2 page PDF
Summary: Sample letter for parents, Suicide is Confirmed (There is permission from the family to talk openly about cause of death)
Sample Letter for Parents of Alumni - Confirmed Suicide
Resource: 3 page PDF
Summary: Sample letter for parents of alumni (Following the Confirmed Suicide of a Student, and there is permission from the family to talk openly about cause of death)
Clinical Providers Assistance After a Patient Suicide
Clinical Providers Assistance After a Patient Suicide
Next, the Clinical Professionals ( Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Counselors, Social Workers) and Medical Professionals (Physicians,Nurses) who may have worked with the suicide victim or is called to help the loved ones after the suicide. The provider will have to deal with their own personal feelings and response when the person who died by suicide is a patient.
Lessons Learned: Forty Years of Clinical Work With Suicide Loss Survivors
Resource: 9 page PDF
Summary: Medical journal article written for clinicians, but it has some excellent points for facilitators.
COALITION OF CLINICIAN SURVIVORS
Resource: Website/ Listserve
Summary: Whether your suicide loss has been of a patient/client, loved one, student, and/or colleague, we know that the impact of this traumatic loss can be profoundly painful, that it often extends into our professional work and identities. In addition, due to the unfortunate stigma (both around suicide and professional vulnerability) that exists with our field, we know that there are very few “places” to even acknowledge this loss or its impact. We want to welcome you to join the CCS, and hope that this is a site where you can find understanding, validation and support, and to know that you are not alone.
After A Suicide: A Postvention Primer for Providers
Resource: 12 page PDF
Summary:
Postvention Guidelines for Professionals: Suicide of a Client
Resource: 4 page PDF
Summary: Guidelines for a professional, what to do if a patient dies by suicide
When Your Patient Commits Suicide:The Psychiatrist's Role, Responses, and Responsibilities
Resource: 10 page PDF
Summary: Suicides constitute a not infrequent event in a psychiatrist's practice and have a major impact upon the clinician as well as the family and the staff. Many psychiatrists especially those in residency are never taught how to manage a patient's suicide. The authors share their experiences in this area and make clear recommendations for interventions with staff, family, and other patients. Careful attention to the physician's own needs are suggested.
The Impact Of Suicide On Professional Caregivers: A Guide For Managers And Supervisors 2022
Resource: 22 page PDF
Summary: This guide is intended to provide an overview of the main issues that can arise when clinical providers and staff experience the death of a client by suicide. It includes how to address grief, debriefing staff and clients, supporting those affected by the death, and contact with family and other survivors of the suicide loss. It was developed as a guide, rather than a blueprint, to assist administrators in responding to this traumatic event in a way that is informed by best practices.
Clinicians as Survivors: After a Suicide Loss
Resource: 33 page PDF
Summary: The Clinician Survivor Task Force, under the auspices of the American Association of Suicidology, will provide consultation, support and education to psychotherapists and other mental health professionals to assist them in understanding and responding to their personal/professional loss resulting from the suicide death of a patient/client and/or family member.
How Patient Suicide Affects Psychiatrists
Resource: Article
Summary: Mental-health practitioners whose clients kill themselves can face stigma from their colleagues, lawsuits, and a toll on their own psyches—making them less likely to take on suicidal patients who need their help.
Responding to Grief, Trauma, and Distress After a Suicide: U.S. National Guidelines
Resource: 67 page PDF
Summary: Survivors of Suicide Loss Task Force April 2015
After a Suicide: A Toolkit for Residency/Fellowship Programs
Resource: 43 page PDF
Summary: In the event of a trainee’s death by suicide within a physician residency or fellowship program, it is critical to have a plan of action in place. This practical handbook provides guidance for hospital and program leaders.
Medical Professionals Assisting Suicide Attempt Survivors
Medical Professionals Assisting Suicide Attempt Survivors
Resource: 19 page PDF
Summary: The purpose of this brochure is to provide you with some quick tips to enhance care in the ED for people who have attempted suicide, while also providing information on the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), patient discharge, and resources about suicide for medical professionals, patients, and their families.
The Way Forward: Pathways to hope, recovery, and wellness with insights from lived experience
Resource: 114page PDF
Summary: Suicide Attempt Survivors Task Force
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