Expert guidance to inform coordinated suicide postvention responses: A Delphi study

The impact of suicide is profound for affected individuals, families and communities. Suicide postvention responses, inclusive of bereavement support, have been recognised as having made a valuable contribution to suicide prevention efforts. Postvention Protocol Response Groups (PPRGs) have emerged as a central mechanism to facilitate a coordinated service system response following a suspected suicide, mobilising a range of local services to provide early intervention support to bereaved communities across a defined geographical area. There is an important role to be played by these key agencies, support services, and community groups in responding to these impacts. However, little is known about the effective implementation of PPRGs.

We used the Delphi method to obtain expert consensus regarding best practice implementation of PPRGs. The two-round online Delphi survey involved a panel of 30 Australian experts (comprising past or present PPRG members, postvention experts, and response beneficiaries) who rated statements in terms of their importance for PPRG implementation.

The 126 statements endorsed by 80% or more of panel members as "essential" or "important" regarding PPRG implementation covered key aspects of stakeholder engagement, governance, practice principles, operational aspects, data surveillance, preventative capacity, sustainability, and special considerations in rural areas. Expert recommendations will serve as the foundation for the development of a PPRG implementation guide.

This study provides valuable expert guidance and practice-based evidence to inform the establishment of PPRGs in areas of need, enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of existing PPRGs, and strengthen the implementation of localised postvention responses.