Exposure to death by suicide is a common and largely unaddressed psycho-social hazard for staff in a range of human services and other workplaces. Qualitative research led by UWA and Neami National in 2023 with 52 staff in 22 human service and first responder agencies revealed that all staff had experienced one or more deaths by suicide in the course of their work. Yet only one agency had a postvention process in place. None of the 22 workplaces had evaluated staff exposure, impacts or the efficacy of postvention in a workplace context. The commonly identified impacts of exposure to suicide at work included: shock, distress, guilt, blame, confusion, isolation, distancing (from work and workmates and others) together with extended leave, burnout, reduced confidence and doubts about role, self-efficacy and work.
Suicide Aware is a collaborative postvention design program for workplaces. Trials in four workplaces evidenced the efficacy of this 'best fit' postvention approach which is informed by the lived experience of staff together with best-practice postvention. Results showed this approach improved staff and management confidence, safety and preparedness when responding to suicide and revealed a range of useful and adaptive implementation strategies.