How can we support staff after the death by suicide of a colleague?

Acknowledge the emotional impactGail Kinman, professor of occupational health psychology, Birkbeck Business School, says, “The sudden death of a colleague can be shocking, distressing, and destabilising. For a death by suicide, emotional responses can be intense, with wide ranging consequences. ‘Suicide postvention’ refers to the measures an organisation takes to offer sensitive and effective support following a death by suicide.“Although suicide is rare, healthcare professionals are at greater risk. I was commissioned by the Louise Tebboth Foundation and the Society of Occupational Medicine to develop a postvention toolkit to support people working in primary care following a colleague’s suicide. The findings revealed the challenges staff encounter and the enduring impact on individuals and organisations. Although every situation is unique, the toolkit outlines key actions across four stages: the first day, first week, first month, and long term.1“On the first day, acknowledging the emotional impact of the death is crucial, as…
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