Towards an Evidence-Based Model of Workplace Postvention

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Psychology
• Grief Studies

Background:

• Workplace suicide presents unique challenges for staff, particularly in high-exposure industries like funeral services.
• Existing support structures may be inadequate for addressing the complexities of suicide bereavement in a professional context.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the potential of suicide postvention within a workplace setting.
• To examine funeral staff experiences with suicide bereavement funerals and evaluate a tailored postvention training program.

Main Methods:

• An instrumental case study design was employed.
• A mixed-methods approach, including staff interviews and training evaluations, was utilized.
• The study focused on a large metropolitan funeral company.

Main Results:

• Staff reported significant difficulties in communication, engagement, and emotional management during suicide bereavement funerals.
• The bespoke postvention training enhanced staff confidence, understanding of suicide bereavement impacts, and willingness to share resources.
• Individual coping mechanisms were prevalent in the absence of formal postvention strategies.

Conclusions:

• Workplace suicide postvention, informed by staff experience, can effectively improve support and confidence.
• Organizational governance and integrated support systems are crucial for maximizing the benefits of postvention initiatives.
• A model for workplace postvention incorporating staff experience and organizational context was developed.