New program offers intervention after suicide
February 14, 2014
Several community groups, guided by New York’s Rensselaer County Suicide Prevention Task Force, have come together to form a county-wide suicide postvention team. The team includes educators, first responders, mental health providers, clergy, and funeral directors, and will be on call to provide a coordinated response after a suicide. Rachel Handler, co-chair of the task force, says the primary goal is to reduce the risk of contagion in the community of the person who has died. The team is intended to be available quickly after a suicide, offering assistance in workplaces, schools, and community group settings. They are prepared to offer many kinds of help, including advice on how to talk effectively with the media, and training in how to identify others exhibiting warning signs of suicidal behavior. Members of the team have gone through the Connect suicide postvention training, a program developed by the New Hampshire chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Spark Extra! Learn more about the Connect suicide postvention training.