Leading the response to an unexpected death in General Practice can feel overwhelming. It is important that you work as a team, look after each other, and seek support for yourself.
This support pack, adapted from a Royal College of General Practice (RCGP)-accredited national template, provides guidance on the role of primary care following the death of a patient by suicide.
In the summary document, key points, actions and locally available training and support have been highlighted for ease of reference.
The key aims are to help the GP practice:
- Navigate the processes and reporting that follow a patient death, suspected to be by suicide
- Signpost to postvention* services for the bereaved family, friends, and colleagues
- Manage the impact on healthcare staff through compassion and understanding
The support pack and summary have been adapted for local use by the Sussex Suicide Prevention Steering Group, which is a partnership of local authorities, NHS, emergency services, education institutes and charity and voluntary sector organisations.
Aligned with national and Sussex suicide prevention strategies, the steering group aims to reduce the risk of suicide, provide better support for people who self-harm and provide better support for those bereaved by suicide across Sussex.
Open the Support Pack for General Practice in Sussex* Postvention
Postvention is a term used to describe support offered after a death by suspected suicide. It aims to prevent further harm by identifying people bereaved or affected by the death (including family, friends, professionals and peers) and offering support.