The findings from a hui held in June this year to establish how best to provide postvention support to Māori communities following death by suicide in their community. Presentation by Jennie Jones, Regional Public Health at the 2009 SPINZ National Symposium: Culture and Suicide Prevention in Aotearoa: http://www.spinz.org.nz/page/108-events-archive+spinz-national-symposium-2009+symposium-coverage

1. Coming Together:
Collaboration in Response to
Suicide in a Community
Jennie Jones
Regional Postvention Co-ordinator
Regional Postvention Response

2. Why a Postvention Response
 To prevent suicide contagion
 To promote the healthy recovery of
the affected community
Regional Postvention Response

3. Postvention is Prevention
Regional Postvention Response

4. Postvention vs Bereavement
Support
 Postvention is a population/group based
process to:
– facilitate support to those affected by the suicide
– Proactively identify those who may be at risk of
suicide or self harm as a result of the suicide
– plan suicide prevention initiatives for community
Regional Postvention Response

5. Postvention vs Bereavement
Support
Bereavement support is an individual or
small group approach to:
 support those directly affected by the suicide
 facilitate grieving by means of support,
education, counseling and pastoral care.
Regional Postvention Response

6. Objectives of Postvention
 To maximise resilience and to minimise
risk within a community, whanau or
individual.
 To establish structures and networks to
respond to the aftermath of the suicide.
Regional Postvention Response

7. Objectives of Postvention
 Ensure capacity of those providing the
care and support to the affected people
in recognising early warning signs and
provide appropriate interventions
 That people at risk for suicide are
identified early and monitoring,
support and follow-up is implemented
Regional Postvention Response

8. Mapping those at Risk
 Mapping helps to identify :
– people affected by the suicide and who may not be
picked up in the first response services
– those who may require more intensive monitoring
and support.
– which organisations are involved and who is
supporting who as well as identify the gaps in
service provision
Regional Postvention Response

9. Wellington Regional Suicide
Postvention Response
Jennie Jones
Email:
postvention@huttvalleydhb.org.nz
Regional Postvention Response