Conference Agenda

Introduction: Suicide loss can have a devastating impact on those left behind and can deeply affect rural communities where close social ties mean that each death resonates widely. Limited access to resources can leave Survivors of Suicide feeling isolated and without adequate support. Postvention can play a critical role in healing, preventing further suicides, and strengthening community resilience. This presentation outlines a framework for developing and sustaining an effective postvention program tailored to rural settings.

Aim: The aim of this project was to design and implement a community-based postvention program that promotes recovery, reduces isolation, and builds long-term capacity for suicide prevention and postvention in rural areas of Arizona. During this presentation, participants will be educated on the key components for developing such a program by establishing partnerships with schools, community stakeholders, crisis teams, and first responders, and by utilizing individuals with lived experience to provide sustainable program services.

Methods: This project engaged Survivors, school staff, mental health providers, first responders, and crisis teams to establish a comprehensive postvention model, which included community-based trainings, school-based postvention workshops, Survivors of Suicide (SOS) support groups, and involvement with Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors (LOSS) Teams.

Results: A comprehensive suicide postvention program was launched in eight rural towns in Arizona, utilizing community members with lived experience to deliver services such as facilitating SOS support groups, educating collaborating schools on suicide postvention, and establishing new partnerships with first responders/crisis response teams for effective postvention outreach and intervention.

Conclusion: The project demonstrates the power of community-driven postvention in fostering healing and preventing further harm after suicide loss. Early indicators suggest that this model is both effective and sustainable in rural settings.

Background: Imagery Rescripting and Reprocessing Therapy (IRRT) represents an innovative approach to the treatment of grief by modifying distressing mental imagery associated with the loss. Especially for suicide loss survivors, who often suffer from intrusive images, intense grief reactions, and an increased prevalence of mental health disorders and suicidality, IRRT may constitute a promising therapeutic approach.

Aim: The aim of the present study is to examine whether a brief intervention using IRRT leads to a significant reduction in grief symptoms, feelings of guilt and responsibility, suicidal thoughts, and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Methods: The study follows a non-concurrent multiple-baseline single-case experimental design, in which replication of effects across several participants with varying baseline lengths contributes to a causal interpretation of the therapy effects. A total of N = 15 suicide loss survivors will be included in the study. The intervention consists of eight sessions and a three-month follow-up session. The following outcomes are assessed: grief (TGI-SR+), (complex) PTSD (ITQ), depression (PHQ-9), suicidality (SSEV), guilt and responsibility (GEQ), and mental imagery (DIS-R).

Results: The study is currently in the recruitment and implementation phase. Preliminary findings from a preceding pilot study indicate a significant reduction in grief symptoms, PTSD, and depressive symptoms over the course of the intervention. These changes remained stable during the follow-up period.

Conclusion: IRRT may represent a promising approach for the treatment of complex grief reactions among suicide loss survivors. The results of the ongoing study are expected to further strengthen the empirical foundation of the method and provide implications for clinical practice and the care of this vulnerable population.

Background: Exposure to patient suicide (PS) has been identified as a frequent and challenging occupational hazard for mental health workers (MHWs). The majority of MHW positively manages the impact of PS, but a minority of MHWs show high levels of emotional, traumatic and/or professional impacts. Research dedicated to the development and evaluation of comprehensive and adaptive programs providing support to MHWs exposed to PS is warranted.

Aim: Our study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a 6-week postvention intervention to buffer the negative impacts and to improve the perceived social support in MHW after PS.

Method: We conducted a mixed-method collaborative and participatory action research study, including a total of 5 postvention interventions. Qualitative evaluation was performed through semi-directive interviews with MHWs after the interventions. Emotional, traumatic and professional impact, and perceived social support were quantitatively measured before and after the intervention through dedicated scales (Impact of Event Scale – Revised, Differential Emotions Scale IV; Perceived Social Support Scale for Professionals).

Results: A total of 28 MHW participated in the study (11 nurses, 11 psychiatrists; 15 men; mean age= 37.3) for a total of 5 interventions in psychiatric settings. The action research design of the study allowed the improvement of the intervention throughout the research process. A significant decreased in emotional, traumatic and professional impact was observed in participants. The perceived support significantly increased. MHW who participated in semi-directive interviews (n= 15) reported that the intervention 1) improved the cohesion in the professional team; 2) offered a secure space to discuss the aftermath of PS and its impact; and 3) fostered the involvement of the MHWs in the team work.

Discussion: Our study provided encouraging results on the perceived effectiveness of a postvention intervention for MHWs exposed to PS in psychiatric settings, both at the individual and team level.

Background: Suicide bereavement is complex, and the support delivered to the suicide bereaved is nuanced. There is limited understanding or agreement within the literature as to the most appropriate way to measure the outcomes of postvention support. The selection and implementation of outcome measures in suicide postvention requires thoughtful consideration.

Aim: The study sought to ascertain the accessibility and feasibility of implementing outcome measures in a national suicide postvention program.

Methods: Three standardised outcome measure tools – (1) Sudden Bereavement Needs Inventory, (2) Integration of Stressful Life Experiences Scale, and (3) Suicidal Ideation and Attributes Scale – and one novel tool were trialled by people with a lived experience of suicide bereavement via an online survey. Participants rated the acceptability of each tool and were invited to participate in a follow-up interview. Questions assessing acceptability were informed by the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability (Sekhon et al., 2018).

Results: A total of 51 people tested the tools, with 18 participating in follow-up interviews. Time since loss for interviewees ranged from 1 – 20 years, with a median of 3 years. Quantitative data revealed moderate to high levels of acceptability. Qualitative interview data provided nuance to the quantitative data, with themes suggesting an overall positive affect towards the tools, recognition of their burden yet utility in early bereavement, appropriateness of language and constructs, and emphasis that outcome data can – and should – inform support.

Conclusion: To our knowledge, this project was the first of its kind to comprehensively explore outcome measures in suicide postvention. The findings suggest that outcome measures are acceptable and feasible, on the proviso they are approached compassionately, used skillfully, and inform support.

References: Sekhon, M., Cartwright, M., & Francis, J. J. (2018). Acceptability of health care interventions: A theoretical framework and proposed research agenda. British Journal of Health Psychology, 23(3), 519-531.

Suicide bereavement is marked by unique combinations of grief, trauma, and social disruption. Yet, clinicians often report limited preparation for best practices in learning how to help people whose suicide grief is not being resolved by time, self-help, or peer support. This study evaluates the impact of a two-day clinical training, Navigating the Tsunami After Suicide: An 8-Session Treatment Model for Clinicians Helping People Cope with Grief, Trauma, and Distress. The training was delivered four times across two U.S. sites (n=86) and engaged mental health providers and community health professionals (e.g., Chaplains) in a structured learning experience designed to strengthen postvention knowledge, trauma-informed skills, and interventions for complicated bereavement.

Across all cohorts, 97% of participants rated the training as “very” or “extremely” useful. Qualitative responses highlighted three consistent themes: (1) deeper understanding of the distinct nature of suicide grief, including shattered assumptions, disenfranchised grief, and the interplay of trauma and meaning-making; (2) the value of authentic storytelling and relational safety, which increased emotional resonance and facilitated skill uptake; and (3) appreciation for the practicality of the 8-session model and clinical practices. Participants reported strong intentions to integrate the model into clinical practice. Initial client reports suggest the 8-session model helped them cope and shift from surviving to rebuilding to making meaning.

Recommendations for improvement emphasized the need for enhanced role-play scaffolding, additional visual learning aids, and expanded diversity and cultural responsiveness within examples and case materials.

Participant feedback directly informed revisions to training tools, future Train-the-Trainer pathways, and sustainability plans for organizations adopting the model.

This evaluation suggests that structured, narrative-rich, trauma-informed clinical training can meaningfully increase provider confidence, skill, and readiness to support suicide-affected individuals. Findings support continued dissemination and formal evaluation of the training model across diverse cultural and organizational contexts.