b'IntroductionKey Terms Suicide is a public health problem and a leading cause of death in the United States, includingamong people of working age (16 to 64 years). 1It is estimated that most Americans will Loss Survivor experience a suicide loss over the course of their lifetime and just as any death has an impact on a workplace, suicide is no different. The death of an employee by suicide can leave aA person who hasworkplace faced with grieving employees, clients and vendors, media attention, and a experienced thecommunity struggling to understand what happened and why. In this situation, organizations suicide of a familyneed reliable information, practical tools, guidance to help them protect their workforce, to member, friend, communicate with the public, and facilitate the process of healing from a suicide loss. or colleague.With that in mind, the goals of this toolkit are:PostventionTo provide workplaces with guidance and tools for postventionActivities that help To provide information on how to respond in the immediate aftermath of an employee suicidepeople cope withthe emotional To assist workplaces in helping employees cope with the suicide of a colleaguedistress resulting To provide guidance on external communications and working with the mediafrom a suicide and To provide workplaces with information on how to move forward and key considerations prevent additionalfor implementing a comprehensive suicide prevention strategytrauma and any potential for suicideThis toolkit reflects consensus recommendations developed in consultation with national contagion thatexperts, including clinicians, researchers, and crisis response professionals. It was developed could lead to furtherprimarily for organizational leaders and human resource professionals at workplace settings, suicidal behavior andbut it can also be useful for supervisors and employees at all levels. deaths, especiallyThe following principles have guided the development of the toolkit:among people who may be at elevated Workplaces should treat all employee deaths within the same framework (i.e., take the risk for suicide. same approach and response for an employee who dies by suicide as for an employeewho dies of a heart attack)Suicide ContagionAttention should be given to reducing the risk of suicide contagion; Suicide contagion is a A process by whichknown phenomenon that can occur when individuals who are at heightened risk for suicide suicide or suicidalare exposed to the suicide of another person; Contagion risk can be mitigated by following behavior of onepostvention strategies and employing safe messagingor more persons With the proper information, guidance, and support from staff and leadership, staff can learn toconsider suicide. cope with the suicide of a fellow colleague, process their grief, and return to healthy functioning Suicide is multifactorial; It is important to consider that a person who dies by suicide was likely struggling with significant concerns, including biological, psychological, social and 1Centers forenvironmental factors that caused substantial psychological pain even if that pain was not Disease Control andapparent to othersPrevention (CDC). WISQARS 2020 Data Help should be available for any person who may be struggling with mental health issues (retrieved May 2023). or feelings of suicide Postvention efforts need to consider culturally competent approaches for supporting those affected by suicideAfter A Suicide | Postvention Toolkit For Workplaces 1'