Protect Life 2: Postvention Proposed Model of Support and Evidence Briefing Discussion Paper

Protect Life 2: A Strategy for Preventing Suicide and Self Harm in Northern Ireland (2019 – 2024) includes a specific action to ‘provide a consistent, compassionate approach to supporting those bereaved /affected by suicide including family and social circle’. This approach is also known as postvention.

PHA recognise the importance of reviewing current services and most importantly listening to the views of service users, families, local communities and other organisations delivering services to ensure an appropriate service model is developed.

Pre-consultation, for this approach, took place between 15  February and 11 April 2021. PHA commissioned Insight Solutions to deliver six online facilitated events which were attended by 154 individuals. A further 2 focus groups were requested with a particular focus on the needs of Irish Travellers and minority ethnic communities and for those who identified at LGBTQI+, which were attended by a further 19 participants. An online survey was completed by 99 individuals and 3 responses were received by email from membership-based organisations. The report from the pre-consultation events can be found here.

From these pre-consultation responses and a review of current evidence for postvention, PHA have developed a discussion paper for a proposed service model prior to full consultation.

Should you have any comments on the proposed service model please send these to Engage.PL2@hscni.net by Sunday 30 October 2022.