Family

After a Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools, Second Edition

AFSP (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention), Children, Education, Essex County Suicide Prevention Coalition, Family, Postvention, Schools, Suicide Prevention, Suicide Prevention Training, Youth - , , , , , -

After a Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools assists schools in implementing a coordinated response to the suicide death of a student. Originally developed in 2011, the second edition includes new information and tools that middle and high schools can use to help the school community cope and reduce suicide risk. The toolkit was developed in collaboration with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and in consultation with national experts, including school-based administrators and staff, clinicians, researchers, and crisis response professionals. It is designed primarily for administrators and staff but can also be useful for parents and communities.

Link to the toolkit HERE.

 

 

Highlights of the second edition include:

  • Updated information on such topics as memorialization, social media, and contagion
  • Updated resource lists
  • A new tool to help with decision-making about memorials
  • New examples of how different communities have addressed specific issues in responding to a suicide death

If you or someone you know may be having thoughts of suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 24/7 at 800-273-TALK.  To reach someone to talk to in Essex County, call the 24-hour Essex County Mental Health Services Crisis Line at 888-854-3773 or the Mental Health Association 24-hour Hopeline at 800-440-8074.  Free and confidental emotional support is always available.  With help, comes hope.

 

Postvention Resources

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One of the services provided by the Essex County Suicide Prevention Coalition includes postvention response.

What is Postvention?

Postvention is a term often used in the suicide prevention field. The definition below is from the U.S. national guidelines developed by the Survivors of Suicide Loss Task Force.
Postvention is an organized response in the aftermath of a suicide(or other traumatic loss) to accomplish any one or more of the following:

-To facilitate the healing of individuals from the grief and distress of suicide loss
-To mitigate other negative effects of exposure to suicide
-To prevent suicide among people who are at high risk after exposure to suicide

To contact the Coalition about postvention services, support for family members, co-workers, or friends or others who may be grieving, call the Hopeline at 800-440-8074 or make an online referral here https://mhainessex.wufoo.com/forms/mobile-crisis-referral/.

 

Here are some resources that might be helpful following a suicide or traumatic loss:

Youth Responses to Death and How to Help

Managers-Guidebook-To-Suicide-Postvention

what to say what not to say 2

The Shock of Loss

Social-Work-Tech-Seven-Stages-of-Grief

RX for Recovery

What to tell children

Mourner’s Bill of Rights

Helping Survivor’s of Suicide Loss 

Coping With the Loss of a Loved One

If you or someone you know might be having thoughts of suicide, call the National Suicide Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255), Essex County Mental Health Crisis line at 888-854-3773 or the MHA Hopeline at 800-440-8074. All lines are 24/7, free and confidential.

 

Coalition provides services for those affected by tragedy in Lake Placid

Blog, Education, Family, Schools, Suicide in the Media, Suicide Prevention, Youth - , , , , , -

Suicide Prevention Coalition provides outreach and postvention services

A representative from the Essex County Suicide Prevention Coalition was in Lake Placid today visiting local businesses, schools and individuals to provide resources on mental health services, grief processing, self-care after a tragedy and suicide prevention.  Anyone wishing to schedule an in-person visit can call the Mental Health Association at 962-2077 or email shelby@mhainessex.org.

 

Responding to 13 Reasons Why: Having an Interactive Discussion

Advocacy, Blog, Children, Education, Environment, Family, Research, Schools, Suicide in the Media, Suicide Prevention, Youth - , , , , , , , , , , , -

The Netflix series 13 Reasons Why, based on the popular 2007 book, has surfaced the topic of suicide prevention across the country. But it has also raised concerns for how young people will react. If you’re thinking about the safest and best way to lead a discussion with teens about 13 Reasons Why and suicide, please read the tip sheet co-authored by SAVE.org and the JED Foundation.

Click here to download a PDF file of the 13 Reasons Why Talking Points.  

North Country Out of the Darkness Walk to Fight Suicide October 1, 2017

Community Event, Family, Fundraiser, Health, North Country Out of the Darkness Walk, Research, Suicide Prevention - , , , , , -

Join us for the North Country Out of the Darkness Community Walk on October 1, 2017 at the Olympic Speed Skating Oval in Lake Placid.  Registration/Check in begins at 11:30 am, the Walk begins at 1:00 pm.  Proceeds benefit local and national suicide prevention and awareness programs of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, including advocacy for public policy, suicide prevention education, and support programs for survivors of suicide loss.  Register to walk, be a virtual walker, make a donation, volunteer or become a sponsor at www.afsp.org/northcountry.  Contact Shelby at 518-962-2077 or Shelby@mhainessex.org for more information.