After a Suicide: a Postvention Primer for Providers

This article provides information on suicide postvention for emergency providers. A range of topics are discussed including: how recovery relates to suicide loss; mental illness & suicide; suicide loss & mental illness; what suicide postvention is; what is different about suicide loss; stressors at a suicide scene; the immediate needs of suicide grievers; misconceptions about suicide loss; postvention first aid; what complicates suicide loss; things best not said; questions that may arise after a suicide; marginalized suicide loss; & the impact of a suicide loss on providers.