Family Involvement in Suicide Prevention and Postvention: a Psychoeducational Perspective (IN: Suicide – an Unnecessary Death, edited by D Wasserman)

This chapter discusses the role of the family in suicide prevention & postvention. Some reasons for involving the family are presented, including: additional information on the patient’s behaviour; influencing attitudes; providing a resource; & culture. The latter half of the chapter discusses suicide postvention. Topics addressed are: the surviving therapist; the family’s return to functioning; educating about grief; demystifying suicide; eliminating excessive guilt, shame, & blaming; assessing & responding to potential suicide risk in the survivors. The chapter concludes with the case history of a widower who needed help with what to tell his children after his wife’s suicide. (7 refs.)