Postvention: A Guide for Response to Suicide on College Campuses (Guide)

Date

January 2, 2024

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 Developed by HEMHA--Higher Educational Mental Health Alliance Project, Postvention: A Guide for Response to Suicide on College Campuses is designed for colleges and universities dealing with or aiming to prepare for campus crises and deaths. It focuses on suicide postvention, emphasizing the importance of predetermined strategies to respond to campus deaths sensitively and highlights the positive impact a well-executed postvention plan can have on prevention. The guide outlines specific areas for consideration and planning, recommending best practices and advocating for an interdisciplinary approach that involves administrators, practitioners, and the broader campus community in planning, coordination, clinical services, communication efforts, and decisions regarding memorials.

The goal of the guide is to aid schools in managing the challenging aftermath of a student suicide death, whether through proactive planning or rapid response to an unexpected death. It offers concise and adaptable guidance suitable for a diverse range of higher education institutions to support the community in returning to a normal routine while effectively addressing the complex and sensitive aspects of responding to such a tragic event on a college or university campus.

In the aftermath of a suicide on campus, postvention efforts are directed towards helping the campus community get back to their pre-crisis level of functioning and even to develop new skills for dealing with challenges in the future.


Postvention: A Guide for Response to Suicide on College Campuses

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