Co-chairs:
The aim of this Special Interest Group is to promote collaboration and evidence in research and practice in the fields of suicide exposure and bereavement and postvention services.
OBJECTIVES:
- To hold a meeting of members at the biannual World Congress, to evaluate past activities and plan future goals and activities.
- To organise symposia or workshops on suicide bereavement and postvention at IASP and similar conferences.
- To ensure a memorial event at the IASP World Congress.
- To contribute to the IASP newsletter and IASP communications around World Suicide Prevention Day and International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day.
- To conduct or facilitate international review papers, research papers or projects.
The IASP 32nd World Congress | Piran, Slovenia
Panel: The Legacy of Suicide – Can Postvention be Prevention?
Chair: Professor Vita Postuvan.
Participants: Bronwen Edwards, Professor William Feigelman, Associate Professor Karl Andriessen & Professor Alexandra Pitman.
RESOURCES:
Preventing Suicide: how to start a suicide bereavement support group. (IASP/WHO publication)
Suicide bereavement is one of the most devastating life events. People bereaved by suicide often struggle with intense feelings of sadness, guilt and anger. They have an increased risk of psychosocial problems, suicidal behaviour, and often receive insufficient social support. Suicide bereavement support groups may provide a safe space where people bereaved by suicide can share their grief and find support from peers and/or professionals. Experiences from around the globe indicate the beneficial effects of such support groups, though guidance regarding organising such a support group is scarce.
This evidence-based resource aims to address this gap by providing support and guidance to anyone wanting to initiate and facilitate a suicide bereavement support group. The information in this resource is based on the literature as well as the experiences of suicide-bereaved people, support group facilitators, and members of the IASP SIG on Suicide Bereavement, regarding best practice in facilitating a support group for people bereaved by suicide.
National Suicide Survivors Organisations
Suicide and Bereavement Outreach Brief
Partnerships for Life Webinar Series
Promoting learning on best practice and effective interventions in relation to the implementation of suicide prevention strategies and programmes.
Chair: Professor Thomas Niederkrotenthaler, featuring guest speakers; Dr Regina Seibl, Professor Vita Poštuvan and Associate Professor Edouard Leaune.
PAPERS:
Hofmann, L., Putri, A. K., Pitman, A., Bantjes, J., Castelli Dransart, D. A., Causer, H., … & Andriessen, K. (2025). Perceived effectiveness of components of interventions to support people bereaved by suicide: A metareview of systematic reviews. Crisis, 6(2), 106–120. https://doi.org/10.1027/0227-5910/a000978
Andriessen, K., Krysinska, K., & Grad, O. (Eds.) (2017). Postvention in action: The international handbook of suicide bereavement support. Gottingen/Boston Hogrefe. https://www.hogrefe.com/eu/shop/postvention-in-action-76282.html
If you would like to join this SIG, please fill in the contact form below:
