Resources for Handling Suicide’s Aftermath

Here are some resources to help colleges create their own protocols for the aftermath of a suicide on campus:

Preventing Suicide Contagion

No college wants to plan for the aftermath of a student’s suicide, but not to, experts say, is reckless and dangerous. “Postvention” guidelines on how best to notify students, handle mourning and memorials, and offer counseling might play a crucial role in averting suicide clusters.

Postvention: A Guide for Response to Suicide on College Campuses, published by the Higher Education Mental Health Alliance.

After a Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools, published by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the Suicide Prevention Resource Center.

Lifeline Online Postvention Manual, published by the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, with insights and strategies regarding social media.

Preventing Suicide: A Resource for Media Professionals, published by the World Health Organization and the International Association for Suicide Prevention.

Appalachian State University’s Student Death Protocol, an example of how one university customized broad postvention guidelines for its campus.