"Postvention" After Suicide

Abstract

Postvention, a term used to describe the services for individuals and communities after a suicide occurs, has been increasing over the past decades. However, these efforts are thwarted by substantial gaps in our knowledge of this population's needs. Using a continuum of suicide bereavement based on severity and length of bereavement to conceptualize the differences in bereavement and how that impacts the need for services, this chapter examines the current outcomes of suicide bereavement. More specifically, the experiences of kin and non-kin individuals are detailed in order to highlight how their experiences of bereavement differ. Next, the current state of services is discussed with special attention to how the current interventions are still insufficient. One major area for improvement includes determining which survivors are more at risk and subsequently need access to services. Additional avenues for improvement include examining how bereavement from exposure can develop into long-term bereavement as well as the barriers to accessing services.