What is Postvention?
While most people are familiar with the concept of suicide prevention, fewer may know the term suicide postvention and what it entails. Suicide postvention refers to providing immediate and ongoing support to those impacted by a suicide loss. Postvention is critical to promote healing after suicide and reduces suicide risk for loss survivors. Through postvention practices, we can reduce the stigma surrounding suicide and support individuals and communities through the grieving process. The main goals of postvention are to help people grieve in a healthy way, both individually and as a community, and to prevent further suicides among those who may be at risk due to the loss.
Currently in a Crisis?
If you or someone you care about is currently in a crisis, help is available 24/7. Call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Find a Postvention Training
Through the Face the Fight initiative, we have developed a Postvention Training series aimed at equipping individuals with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively and compassionately support communities experiencing suicide loss. Our events are specifically tailored to address the unique needs of different groups:
Clinical Provider and Leadership Trainings
This series is designed for mental health clinicians, medical providers, and organizational leaders.
Non-Clinical Peer & Leadership Trainings
This series caters to veterans, colleagues, caregivers, and other non-clinical community members.
Clinical Provider and Leadership Trainings
In our work as mental health and medical providers, we support clients with a range of challenges including suicidality and those who may have lost a loved one to suicide. Many providers will lose a patient to suicide at some point during their career. This loss can have a profound impact, both personally and professionally.
Through Face the Fight, we have developed a training series designed to equip healthcare organizations and medical providers with the knowledge and resources to handle such challenging situations effectively.
Thank you to our Esteemed Partners:
Past Trainings
Healing After Suicide Loss: Postvention for Providers
Presented by:
Erin Higgins, LCSW, LAC, Social Worker, Rocky Mountain MIRECC for Suicide Prevention
Christie Machan, LCSW, Social Worker, Rocky Mountain MIRECC for Suicide Prevention
Katy Dondanville, PsyD, ABPP, Face the Fight Chief Scientific Advisor, UT Health San Antonio
Audience: Mental health clinicians and medical providers
Find a Postvention Resource
Find postvention resources, organizations and support groups using the following resource menu and descriptions. For any specific questions, please email the resource organization’s designated email
Community
Find organizations dedicated to supporting individuals who have lost someone to suicide.
Workplace
Find organizations dedicated to supporting workplace leaders with their Postvention efforts.
Medical and Mental Health Providers
Find organizations dedicated to supporting mental health providers.
Postvention Resources
Community Postvention
Below are organizations dedicated to postvention efforts providing essential resources and support for individuals who have lost someone to suicide.
Veteran and Military Family Postvention
Uniting for Suicide Postvention
- Uniting for Suicide Postvention developed by the Rocky Mountain MIRECC for Suicide Prevention within the Department of Veteran Affairs.
- Suite of resources for community members including education, podcasts, video stories of loss survivors, blogs.
TRAGEDY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR SURVIVORS (TAPS)
- If you a Service Member, Veteran or family members who have experienced a suicide loss, please connect them to TAPS for resources and support.
- Loss survivors and providers can reach TAPS 24/7 at 800-959-TAPS (8277) or visit taps.org/suicideto learn more and get connected.
- The Alliance of Hope was created by survivors for survivors and provides online healing support and other services for people who are coping with loss to suicide.
- The Alliance of Hope online forum operates like a 24/7 support group. In addition, the website contains support resources and information on the survivor experience. Visit allianceofhope.org to learn more and connect with other suicide loss survivors.
Resources for Families and Recent Survivors
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
- Healing Conversations is a one-time visit that connects those who have lost a loved one to suicide with trained volunteers who are also survivors of suicide loss.
- The goal of this connection is to help recent survivors navigate this challenging journey by offering support, connection, and resources.: https://afsp.org/healing-conversations/
Resources for Children and Youth:
Talking to Kids (T2K) about Suicide
- This website provides information and ideas specific to preschoolers, school age and teenagers age group in English and Spanish.
- If there has been a recent suicide attempt in your family, this may be one of the toughest experiences you and your children may ever face. It is important to take care of yourself, so that you are better able to care for your child. The How to Talk to a Child about Suicide Attempt in your Family guide is intended to provide you with some of that support, and also share other resources that may be helpful for you now and as your family recovers. *The guide is not intended to replace professional mental health advice.
Talking to Children about Suicide Loss
- This pdf document provides information on Talking to Children Who Have Been Affected by Suicide or an Attempted Suicide of Someone They Know
Five Things Kids Bereaved by Suicide Loss Want Adults to Know
- This presentation will explore five things kids bereaved by suicide say they need from the adults in their lives to better support them.
- We also will discuss talking to kids about suicide and how child and teen grief after a suicide loss differs from other types of losses.
Workplace Postvention
Below you will find resources and organizations looking to support workplace leaders with their Postvention efforts
Developing Postvention Plans
- This guide provides workplace leaders with clear action steps for suicide postvention, including immediate, short-term, and long-term responses to help employees cope with the aftermath of the traumatic event.
Uniting for Suicide Postvention
- Uniting for Suicide Postvention developed by the Rocky Mountain MIRECC for Suicide Prevention within the Department of Veteran Affairs.
- Suite of resources for clinicians including sample guidelines, trainings, podcasts, information on managing legal & ethical considerations, along with resources for losing a patient to suicide
Postvention for Medical and Mental Health Providers
Find Postvention resources for medical and mental health providers
Clinician and Workplace Postvention
Uniting for Suicide Postvention
- Uniting for Suicide Postvention developed by the Rocky Mountain MIRECC for Suicide Prevention within the Department of Veteran Affairs.
- Suite of resources for clinicians including sample guidelines, trainings, podcasts, information on managing legal & ethical considerations, along with resources for losing a patient to suicide
The Suicide Risk Management Consultation Program (SRM)
- The SRM Lecture Series is a free, live webinar for providers working with Veterans at risk for suicide offered on the 2nd Wednesday of every month from 2-3pm EST.
- SRM also provides free consultation, support, education and resources that promote therapeutic best practices for professionals working with Veterans at risk for suicide.
Coalition of Clinical Survivors:
- Coalition of Clinical Survivors mission is to provide support, education, resources, and consultation to mental health professionals and other professional caregivers who have experienced suicide losses in personal or professional contexts.
- Suite of resources for clinicians including sample guidelines, trainings, podcasts, information on managing legal & ethical considerations, along with resources for losing a patient to suicide
