Best and Promising Practices in Suicide Bereavement Support Services: a Review of the Literature

This literature review highlights the state of suicide bereavement support services and the evaluation processes reflected in the current research. The goal was to review the literature on best and promising practices, and to focus on documentation specific to suicide bereavement support services and evaluation approaches that have been found to be effective, valid, and reliable in applications elsewhere. It also includes specific considerations for target populations. Two searches of the literature were conducted. The first involve three primary databases, the grey literature, and a small number of key informant interviews including a survivor focus group. The second search investigated further the literature related to complicated grief, coping skills measurement, and services for Aboriginal populations. In total, 74 information sources were deemed to be appropriate and relevant according to the set criteria, and thus have been included in this review.