Sharing information and resources in a presentation-style format from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s virtual Suicide Bereavement Clinical Training. From the AFSP site: The suicide of a loved one can have a profound and sometimes devastating impact on those left behind, called suicide survivors. Bereavement after suicide may entail high levels of disorientation, guilt, regret, anger, shame, and trauma. Survivors sometimes also find their relationships with other people changed, as they struggle with the social stigma often placed on suicide, and the altered family relationships that have been changed by the feelings of guilt, blame, and failure that suicide may engender. Survivors may also be at risk for elevated rates of complicated grief and future suicidality themselves. All of this makes surviving the suicide of a loved one a potentially life-transforming ordeal that requires a level of support that goes beyond traditional grief counseling in order to help survivors cope with the tragic loss. Topics will include: • The psychological impact of suicide on survivors and common themes in the bereavement of survivors • The impact of suicide on family functioning • What research with survivors tells us is needed • The tasks of loss integration and recovery for survivors • Postvention options for survivors The district’s latest strategic plan highlights the importance of mental health support and awareness for our students and staff. Grief experienced from a suicide has been, and will continue to be, an unfortunate reality for some of our students and their families, and our staff. For those who have experienced it or may experience it at some point, suicide bereavement will have a significant impact on their mental health, and on, the school performance (attendance, academics, emotional/behavioral regulation) of our students.
