American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Launches Best Practices Toolkit for Workplaces Following a Death by Suicide

AFSP’s recent Harris Poll surveying U.S. adults’ perceptions of mental health and suicide prevention found that respondents overwhelmingly (92%) believe that employers have a role to play in suicide prevention. With the average adult estimated to spend a third of their life at work, workplaces are crucial communities to reach people with lifesaving resources. 

What many don’t realize is that the way in which a suicide death is responded to may increase or decrease safety for others in the community and environment affected. That’s why this week the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention launched After a Suicide: Postvention Toolkit for Workplaces to aid this critical effort.  

Postvention is part of a holistic suicide prevention approach. It refers to interventions that help people cope with the emotional distress resulting from a death by suicide and prevent additional trauma. These actions also help reduce the potential for contagion, or further suicidal behavior and deaths, especially among people at risk for suicide.  

 Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the U.S., and the suicide rate among the U.S. working-age population (16-62 years old) has increased by approximately 33% over the last two decades.  

“The suicide of a colleague is a devastating event, and one that no workplace needs to navigate alone,” said AFSP Senior Vice President of Programs Trisha Calabrese. “While we hope organizations do not need to use this toolkit, for those that do, it can be foundational in supporting employees through the loss of a colleague and charting a path forward. Establishing a set of protocols and having a plan in place before a suicide occurs will help ensure a prompt and appropriate response that has the potential to save lives.” 

After a Suicide: Postvention Toolkit for Workplaces is primarily designed for organizational leaders and human resource professionals but is useful to employees at all levels. It provides guidance on: 

Developing postvention protocols including: 

• Crisis response & communications 

• Helping employees cope 

• Moving forward 

Tools and resources such as: 

• Key messages 

• Loss and healing resources 

• Mental and behavioral health resources 

• Crisis services  

• Prevention programs 

• Internal communications resources 

With a longstanding commitment to supporting workplace mental health, AFSP has led and partnered on initiatives across occupation groups at high risk for suicide, such as within academia and healthcare settings. This year AFSP announced a new multi-year partnership with Bechtel dedicated to saving lives in the construction community. The partnership will reach 500,000 U.S. construction workers over five years through industry-specific programs and resources backed by a $7 million donation from Bechtel.  

AFSP also joined forces with the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) to promote suicide prevention and mental health at scale in workplaces across the country. 

If you are an employer or an employee, find out more about After a Suicide: Postvention Toolkit for Workplaces and take action to bring this resource to your workplace. You can also learn more about developing a suicide prevention plan at https://workplacesuicideprevention.com/.