Suicide is the eighth leading cause of death in the United States. Annually, 30,000 Americans die by suicide. Approximately one out of four people knows someone who committed suicide. In the aftermath of a suicide, there will be at least 6-10 people whose lives will be changed forever. Postvention consists of supportive interventions that help grieving families and friends cope with their loss following a suicide of a loved one.
When someone experiences the loss of a loved one through suicide, they will cycle through a variety of reactions. Some of those reactions include shock and denial, anger towards the person who completed suicide, the need to find others responsible for the suicide, disruptions of eating sleeping and patterns, helplessness, abandonment, isolation, and loneliness. The most difficult reactions to cope with are guilt and shame.
People who have lost a loved one to suicide will more than likely think they could have done something to prevent the suicide. Many of them will say things such as “If only I” or I should have.” Self-blaming for a loved one's death is common and a positive postvention plan can help survivors unravel the web of guilt and shame.
The grief that people experience after a suicide tends to be more complicated and prolonged than with a death from natural causes. If the grieving person found the body of their loved one, there is often an element of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) associated in combination with the grief. Many survivors feel profound effects of the loss and never fully recover. Postvention services such as groups like Survivors of Suicide and other grief and loss support groups can teach people how to cope better and eventually learn how to live with their loss.
There are grief groups throughout the country specifically intended for people who have lost someone to suicide (Survivors of Suicide). Because of the stigma that accompanies suicide, survivors feel more comfortable attending a group with others who are experiencing the same form of grief, often resulting in feeling less shame and embarrassment associated with their loss. Postvention strategies try to ensure that people receive the understanding and guidance that survivors need.
Postvention offers validation by helping people make sense of the suicide of a loved one and assists survivors with their emotional journey. Having an encouraging postvention plan can help survivors facilitate their grieving process and begin to live again.
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