Establishing core domains in suicide postvention: a Delphi study in Chile

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Psychology
• Mental Health Services

Background:

• Postvention, structured support following suicide, is vital for suicide prevention.
• Standardized protocols and training for postvention are lacking, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
• Healthcare professionals need adequate guidance for effective suicide postvention response.

Purpose of the Study:

• To achieve expert consensus on core suicide postvention domains in Chile.
• To inform the development of a postvention recommendation guide.
• To create a training program for healthcare professionals.

Main Methods:

• A Delphi consensus study with 28 experts (researchers, policymakers, healthcare professionals, survivors).
• Experts rated items on a 5-point Likert scale; consensus defined by ≥90% agreement or IQR ≤1.
• A focus group with 5 healthcare professionals assessed utility and feasibility of proposed materials.

Main Results:

• Consensus was reached on five core domains: impact, immediate response, ongoing support, specific settings, and long-term follow-up.
• The Delphi panel included diverse expertise, maintaining 89% retention across two rounds.
• Focus group participants emphasized early accompaniment, survivor testimonies, and adaptable online modules.

Conclusions:

• Expert consensus provides a foundation for a postvention guide and training framework.
• The framework is designed for scalable implementation in Chile's public health system.
• The approach is adaptable to other Latin American and resource-constrained contexts.