Suicide Postvention
Counselling Those Bereaved By Suicide
The Funeral or Tangi of someone who has died by suicide
Dealing with the Aftermath of Suicide
A Workshop for ThoseBereaved by Suicide
Answering the Unanswerable: Counselling those bereaved by suicide
The Lasting Impact of Suicide on Whānau and Communities
The impact of suicide on whānau, hapū, friends, colleagues, and communities is profound and enduring. Many individuals experience a complicated grieving process, further complicated by the stigma surrounding suicide and mental health issues.
Suicide also poses an increased risk of subsequent suicides within families. Intergenerational suicide contagion is recognised as a significant risk factor, with some studies indicating that a family history of suicide can raise the risk by as much as tenfold. Counselling should focus on addressing intergenerational suicide and suicide clusters; as Shneidman stated, postvention is "prevention for the next generation."
It is vital for counsellors assisting those grieving a suicide loss to be adept not only in bereavement support but also in helping individuals and families find meaning in the loss in ways that minimise the risk of suicide contagion within the family.
Suicide also poses an increased risk of subsequent suicides within families. Intergenerational suicide contagion is recognised as a significant risk factor, with some studies indicating that a family history of suicide can raise the risk by as much as tenfold. Counselling should focus on addressing intergenerational suicide and suicide clusters; as Shneidman stated, postvention is "prevention for the next generation."
It is vital for counsellors assisting those grieving a suicide loss to be adept not only in bereavement support but also in helping individuals and families find meaning in the loss in ways that minimise the risk of suicide contagion within the family.
Workshop Description:
Grief resulting from suicide shares similarities with other types of bereavement, yet it features distinct differences. This workshop primarily focuses on understanding these unique characteristics, recognising their impact on individuals and relationships, and effectively addressing them within a therapeutic context.
The grieving process is known to be complex and can extend far beyond that of other forms of loss, with effects that may linger for years after the death. Participants will gain valuable insights into the unique aspects of grief experienced while supporting individuals or families affected by suicide loss. They will apply established therapeutic outcomes to enhance their practice.
The influence of suicide can ripple far beyond the immediate circle, potentially affecting up to 135 individuals per suicide, according to studies. Given the significant prevalence of suicide in our society, it is crucial for counsellors and clinicians to comprehend the potential for suicide contagion, the dynamics of intergenerational suicide, and the importance of monitoring suicide risk among whānau members.
The grieving process is known to be complex and can extend far beyond that of other forms of loss, with effects that may linger for years after the death. Participants will gain valuable insights into the unique aspects of grief experienced while supporting individuals or families affected by suicide loss. They will apply established therapeutic outcomes to enhance their practice.
The influence of suicide can ripple far beyond the immediate circle, potentially affecting up to 135 individuals per suicide, according to studies. Given the significant prevalence of suicide in our society, it is crucial for counsellors and clinicians to comprehend the potential for suicide contagion, the dynamics of intergenerational suicide, and the importance of monitoring suicide risk among whānau members.
Topics Covered:
- Please Explain - An overview of suicide and why people do it
- Whose fault is it? Making sense of the Why?
- Is suicide a selfish act? – Understanding the suicidal person’s thinking process
- The suicidal moment
- Grief Theory in the context of bereavement by suicide
- Dealing with the shame and stigma of suicide
- The impact of abandonment and self-doubt in grief processes
- Understanding family dynamics after a family member has suicided
- Therapeutic outcomes when working with individuals and whānau bereaved by suicide
- Suicide contagion, copycat suicides and inter-generational suicide – why it happens
- Assessing suicide risk in those bereaved by suicide
2026 Dates:
(Click on date for online registration)
Location | Date | Location | Date |
Tāmaki Makaurau - Auckland | Ōtautahi - Christchurch | ||
Ōtepoti - Dunedin | Online | ||
Whanganui | Whanganui-a-Tara - Wellington |
Dealing with the Aftermath: A fresh approach to responding to the impact of suicide in different settings
Are the current suicide postvention response models, critical incident plans and bereavement support services fit for purpose and culturally responsive so to be effective in reducing the potential of suicide contagion?
Our understanding about effective suicide postvention continuously evolves as more research and evaluation has been undertaken.
In order for suicide postvention responses to be impactful they must be grounded in an up-to-date understanding of suicide epidemiological data and suicide trends; populations who are impacted by the suicides; the phenomenon of contagion and how it manifests itself; and the consequential individual, whānau and public narratives that occur as those impacted attempt to make sense of the death and to answer the question of why.
Hear why suicide postvention specialist and programme evaluator, Barry Taylor believes there needs to be a review of how we deliver postvention services and where the focus should be.
Based on his suicide postvention work in Australia, he conceptualised, designed and established the Wellington Region Suicide Postvention Response Service over 10 years ago, a model which postvention response services around the country is based. As with most service moodels there is always a challenge with replication and transferability of models.
Topics covered will include:
- Assessing the risk of suicide contagion
- Postvention mapping
- Difference between postvention and bereavement support
- Principles, objectives and activities of suicide postvention
- Developing postvention policies and proceedures
- Community based postvention response - a critique
The impact of a suicide on whānau and hapū, friends, work colleagues and communities is both profound and enduring with many experiencing a more complicated grieving process that is compounded further by the stigma of suicide or mental illness.
Suicide brings a heightened risk of further suicide within whānau, friendship circles, social and sporting networks, schools, workplaces, professions and communities. Among whānau, Intergenerational suicide contagion is now recognised as a significantly increased risk factor, with some research indicating that history of suicide in immediate family can increase suicide risk tenfold. Postvention responses need to focus on intergenerational suicide as well as suicide clusters. According to Shneidman, postvention is "prevention for the next generation."
Suicide brings a heightened risk of further suicide within whānau, friendship circles, social and sporting networks, schools, workplaces, professions and communities. Among whānau, Intergenerational suicide contagion is now recognised as a significantly increased risk factor, with some research indicating that history of suicide in immediate family can increase suicide risk tenfold. Postvention responses need to focus on intergenerational suicide as well as suicide clusters. According to Shneidman, postvention is "prevention for the next generation."
Primary Aims of Postvention:
- Mitigate the impact of the suicide death
- Minimise the risk of suicide contagion
- Promote healthy recovery in whānau, social networks, settings or communities
Drawing on the contemporary research and thinking in postvention Barry will offer an outcome framework for the provision of suicide postvention in settings such as schools, mental health NGOs and workplaces or community based suicide postvention inter-agency collaborations.
This workshop aims to build understanding of effective strategies to respond to a death by suicide in different settings: whānau & hapū, ethnic groupings, schools, workplaces, organisations and communities. The workshop also outlines the differences between suicide postvention and suicide bereavement support and how best to manage the tensions between the two approaches.
The principles, objectives and activities of suicide postvention will be discussed. In addition the assessing risk of contagion, postvention mapping, community postvention risk audit, developing an at-risk registry and the roles and responsibilities of community postvention action groups will be covered.
The principles, objectives and activities of suicide postvention will be discussed. In addition the assessing risk of contagion, postvention mapping, community postvention risk audit, developing an at-risk registry and the roles and responsibilities of community postvention action groups will be covered.
Honouring Not Glorifying: The dynamics of the suicide tangi or funeral service and its role in the prevention of further suicides and bereavement support
What is said and how it is said can have a significant impact on those who are bereaved. Care must be taken to ensure that the messages conveyed and what happens in the funeral does unintentionally glorify suicide that could lead to others finding suicide as an appealing solution to their life difficulties
With increasing number of people dying by suicide, especially young people, concern has been expressed about the potential risk in tangis and funerals of glorifying suicide which could lead to further suicides.
The facilitator of this course will draw upon his extensive experience of working with people and communities affected by suicide, establishing effective community responses to copycat suicides, his leadership in the loss and grief sector and as a funeral celebrant. He has worked with numerous indigenous communities as they have debated the sensitive issues of observing cultural funeral rituals (tikanga) and their concern of not glorifying suicide, especially in their tamariki.
His international experience includes being the State President of National Association for Loss & Grief (Victoria) and convenor of the Victorian Loss & Grief Practitioners Accreditation Board. He developed and delivered nationally a certificate training programme for the Australian funeral industry on loss and grief and has 26 years’ experience as a funeral celebrant. He has lectured at theological colleges and training programmes for funeral celebrants on the role of ritual in grief processes and the pastoral care needs of those bereaved by suicide.
The facilitator of this course will draw upon his extensive experience of working with people and communities affected by suicide, establishing effective community responses to copycat suicides, his leadership in the loss and grief sector and as a funeral celebrant. He has worked with numerous indigenous communities as they have debated the sensitive issues of observing cultural funeral rituals (tikanga) and their concern of not glorifying suicide, especially in their tamariki.
His international experience includes being the State President of National Association for Loss & Grief (Victoria) and convenor of the Victorian Loss & Grief Practitioners Accreditation Board. He developed and delivered nationally a certificate training programme for the Australian funeral industry on loss and grief and has 26 years’ experience as a funeral celebrant. He has lectured at theological colleges and training programmes for funeral celebrants on the role of ritual in grief processes and the pastoral care needs of those bereaved by suicide.
Topics covered:
- The funeral of someone who has died by suicide – Why the concern?
- Mitigating against the potential for suicide contagion
- The stigma of suicide and mental illness
- The role of the tangi or funeral service in community debriefing after a suicide
- An overview of the issues for those bereaved by suicide and how the tangi or funeral service helps
- Honouring not glorifying - how to manage the tension between the two and why it is important
- Ways to discuss / address the topic of suicide in a funeral – helpful and unhelpful messages
- The dynamics of symbolic gestures and actions
- Working with the family in preparing the funeral
I Just Want to Know Why: Making sense of suicide
An information seminar where those bereaved by suicide, in a safe forum, can ask those questions they have wanted to ask and for those questions to be respectively answered.
“Why?” is often one of the first questions for those bereaved by suicide as they seek to make sense of the death. A question to which there is often not an exact or obvious or immediate answer and may in fact never be answered in a way that satisfies the bereaved person’s need to understand.
That is not to say that it is not a question worth asking and that the enquiring about the question is an important part of the bereaved person's healing journey. Recognising the need for a forum in which thoese bereaved by suicide can explore the question of why was the inspiration behind designing this seminar specifically for people bereaved by suicide. Acknowledging the vulnerability that can arise in asking questions for those attending, the seminar allows those attending to ask those questions that may be difficult or even painful to ask, creating a safe and caring environment is a primary concern in delivering the seminar. This information seminar, , provides the opportunity for those attending to learn more about the phenomenon of suicide, why people kill themselves, what leads people to make such a decision and understanding, the suicidal person’s thinking process. Barry draws his insights from thirty five years of working with suicidal people as well as supporting those bereaved by suicide. He covers the latest research and thinking on suicide and his lived experience of living with depression and suicidal thinking.
Topics include:
- An overview of suicide and why people kill themselves
- Whose fault is it? The a
- Is suicide a selfish act? – Understanding the suicidal person’s thinking process
- The suicidal moment
- Copycat suicides and inter-generational suicide – why it happens
Delivered on RequestThis information seminar is delivered on request. The preferred model is for a community agency to host the seminar. The format found to be the most useful is for the seminar it to be run on a day in the weekend - 10am to 3pm. The seminar can be adapted to a two hour evening session.
For Suicide Prevention & Mental Wellbeing Training, Mentoring or Policy Advice
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