Suicide Loss
Resource Centre
Find information to help you support mental well-being and resilience for your family members, your community members, or your clients.
For Individuals
“How to Help a Grieving Friend” is a moving and insightful animated video created by Megan Devine—an internationally recognized psychotherapist, grief advocate, and best-selling author. Devine is renowned for her empathetic approach to grief, combining over two decades of clinical experience
Issued by the Mental Health Commission of Canada, this resource was created with input, feedback, and guidance from the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention, the Centre for Suicide Prevention, the Public Health Agency of Canada, and individuals with lived experience related to suicide.
For someone impacted by a suicide attempt or loss, telling their story can be cathartic. However, when considering telling the story publicly, it's critical to determine if the story will be safe for others to hear. Created by the Centre for Suicide Prevention, Guidelines for Sharing Experiences with Suicide is a guide for
A Journey Toward Health and Hope--Handbook for Recovery After a Suicide Attempt (created by SAMHSA) assists individuals in taking initial steps towards recovery, hope and healing following a suicide attempt.
Designed for individuals recovering from a suicide attempt, SMSHA's A Guide for Taking Care of Yourself After Your Treatment in the Emergency Department provides guidance on seeking healing, fostering hope, and accessing support post-emergency room treatment.
Increased awareness of mental health issues enhances the likelihood of assisting individuals facing challenges related to mental illnesses. Yet many individuals feel uncertain about how to navigate discussions surrounding suicide or mental health
For Friends and Family Members
If you are supporting a child or teen who has experienced the loss of someone to suicide, it can be challenging to know how best to help them through their grief. The booklet, Children, Teens and Suicide Loss , created by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in partnership with the Dougy Center , offers clear, compassionate guidance tailored specifically for parents and guardians. Within its pages, you’ll find vital information on how young people of different ages understand and process suicide loss, practical advice on using age-appropriate language when talking about what happened, and suggestions for fostering a supportive environment as they begin to heal. You can view an online copy of the booklet here , or, if you prefer, purchase a paper copy for your home or organization. This resource is here to help you navigate a difficult time with greater confidence and understanding. Another helpful resource is the book Why? A Story for Kids Who Have Lost a Parent to Suicide . The American Psychological Association presents the book in the video, Why?, read by Melissa Allen Heath.
“How to Help a Grieving Friend” is a moving and insightful animated video created by Megan Devine—an internationally recognized psychotherapist, grief advocate, and best-selling author. Devine is renowned for her empathetic approach to grief, combining over two decades of clinical experience
If you are supporting a child or teen who has experienced the loss of someone to suicide, it can be challenging to know how best to help them through their grief. The booklet, Children, Teens and Suicide Loss, created by American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in partnership with the Dougy Center, offers clear, comp
Issued by the Mental Health Commission of Canada, this resource was created with input, feedback, and guidance from the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention, the Centre for Suicide Prevention, the Public Health Agency of Canada, and individuals with lived experience related to suicide.
For someone impacted by a suicide attempt or loss, telling their story can be cathartic. However, when considering telling the story publicly, it's critical to determine if the story will be safe for others to hear. Created by the Centre for Suicide Prevention, Guidelines for Sharing Experiences with Suicide is a guide for
Dealing with the aftermath of a suicide can be incredibly complex and challenging for family and friends, both emotionally and practically. This guide is a modified version of Alberta's Hope and Healing: A Practical Guide for Survivors of Suicide--developed to provide practical advice to individuals in Alberta who
For Professionals
When tragedy strikes, informed, compassionate leadership can make all the difference. The “Postvention Guide for CAF Leadership” is a comprehensive resource from the Department of National Defence, designed to help Canadian Armed Forces leaders respond effectively after a suicide or suicide attempt within their ranks.
“Postvention Practices for Military Settings” is a Short Takes on Suicide Prevention podcast episode featuring Kim Ruocco (Vice President of T.A.P.S.) and Dr. Maggie Guglielmi (Stratton VAMC).
Are you looking to strengthen your crisis center’s response after a suicide? The podcast episode “Postvention Practices for Crisis Centers” from the Short Takes on Suicide Prevention series is a valuable resource.
Parents to Parents: After Your Child's Suicide Attempt is a video resource designed to support parents navigating the aftermath of a child's suicide-related crisis.
Created by experts in veterinary medicine, suicide prevention, and survivors of suicide loss, After a Suicide: A Guide for Veterinary Workplaces provides best practices for immediate response to a suicide, advice on helping the community grieve and cope over time,
For someone impacted by a suicide attempt or loss, telling their story can be cathartic. However, when considering telling the story publicly, it's critical to determine if the story will be safe for others to hear. Created by the Centre for Suicide Prevention, Guidelines for Sharing Experiences with Suicide is a guide for
For Community Groups
Together to Live by the Centre for Suicide Prevention has created an online guide, Postvention--Supporting People After a Suicide Attempt to Death, as a resource to assist communities in developing a suicide postvention response. This online resource contains planning guides,
Ensuring a harmonious blend of administrative requirements and clinical assistance is crucial when it comes to suicide postvention in medical environments. In this podcast, Drs. Sung and Myers share their expertise in implementing suicide postvention processes
The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs has produced the podcast, “Postvention 101”. In this podcast, Dr. Jack Jordan lay a foundation for understanding what suicide postvention is, what it entails, who it is for, and why it is essential to a comprehensive suicide prevention plan.
Switchboard Victoria's (Australia) LGBTIQA+ community and peer-led Suicide Postvention Response Plan: Preliminary Findings (2020) presents findings from their research study and offers general guidelines for LGBTIQA+ communities and peer organizations engaged in providing postvention support following the suicide death of an LGBTIQA+ individual.
The occurrence of a student's suicide can leave a school grappling with grieving students, concerned parents, distressed school staff, media scrutiny, and a community seeking understanding. In such circumstances, schools
Postvention initiatives play a vital role in aiding individuals impacted by suicide, such as those grieving the loss of a loved one to suicide, and in mitigating the potential for additional suicides or crises. These initiatives encompass follow-up education, peer support, employee assistance programs,
All Resources
If you are supporting a child or teen who has experienced the loss of someone to suicide, it can be challenging to know how best to help them through their grief. The booklet, Children, Teens and Suicide Loss , created by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in partnership with the Dougy Center , offers clear, compassionate guidance tailored specifically for parents and guardians. Within its pages, you’ll find vital information on how young people of different ages understand and process suicide loss, practical advice on using age-appropriate language when talking about what happened, and suggestions for fostering a supportive environment as they begin to heal. You can view an online copy of the booklet here , or, if you prefer, purchase a paper copy for your home or organization. This resource is here to help you navigate a difficult time with greater confidence and understanding. Another helpful resource is the book Why? A Story for Kids Who Have Lost a Parent to Suicide . The American Psychological Association presents the book in the video, Why?, read by Melissa Allen Heath.
“How to Help a Grieving Friend” is a moving and insightful animated video created by Megan Devine—an internationally recognized psychotherapist, grief advocate, and best-selling author. Devine is renowned for her empathetic approach to grief, combining over two decades of clinical experience
If you are supporting a child or teen who has experienced the loss of someone to suicide, it can be challenging to know how best to help them through their grief. The booklet, Children, Teens and Suicide Loss, created by American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in partnership with the Dougy Center, offers clear, comp
Issued by the Mental Health Commission of Canada, this resource was created with input, feedback, and guidance from the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention, the Centre for Suicide Prevention, the Public Health Agency of Canada, and individuals with lived experience related to suicide.
When tragedy strikes, informed, compassionate leadership can make all the difference. The “Postvention Guide for CAF Leadership” is a comprehensive resource from the Department of National Defence, designed to help Canadian Armed Forces leaders respond effectively after a suicide or suicide attempt within their ranks.
“Postvention Practices for Military Settings” is a Short Takes on Suicide Prevention podcast episode featuring Kim Ruocco (Vice President of T.A.P.S.) and Dr. Maggie Guglielmi (Stratton VAMC).
Printable Resources for Postvention Support
Suicide Postvention Counselling Poster
An 11x17 poster promoting Rapid Access Counselling for Those Impacted by Suicide Loss, offering specialized postvention support to individuals affected by suicide.
Suicide Postvention Counselling Resources Card
A 6x4 card providing a list of Saskatchewan agencies offering Rapid Access Counselling for Those Impacted by Suicide Loss, delivering specialized postvention support for individuals affected by suicide.
