Postvention

Postvention is designed to provide supportive services for students, school staff, and community members following a suicide or traumatic student death in the St. Louis area. The Postvention team is trained to provide an evidence-based response, including the following services: consultation with school staff in planning a building- or district-wide response, training workshops for parents and community members, student presentations, and debriefing sessions for students and faculty. The Postvention coordinator will work with school administrators to tailor a unique response plan that best fits the needs of the school community. Please call the Family Support Warm Line at 314.952.8274 between the hours of 9:00am and 5:30pm, Monday through Friday, for more information about Postvention services or fill out our request information form.

 

For Families

Losing a classmate by suicide can trigger symptoms of mental health conditions. Family Support Counseling is available at the CHADS office on online to treat depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation in students who are grieving.

Services are offered to adolescents ages 10-25. Parents or guardians who have lost a child to suicide can receive one on one support from CHADS staff and trained volunteers who are also survivors of suicide loss. Some families also choose to attend Survivors of Suicide Support Groups which meet biweekly in our office and online.

Adolescent suicide rates have been rising in Missouri, spiking from 118 suicide deaths between 2006-2008 to 177 deaths between 2015-2017.

THERE IS HOPE.

Community awareness of risk factors and mental health resources are crucial to saving young lives and supporting those who have lost someone to suicide.

For Students

In the days following a loss, CHADS can offer in-school crisis counseling for students.

An in-school support group may also be provided to provide information about myths and facts of suicide, grief, and self-care.

The CHADS counselor facilitating support groups or crisis counseling will also conduct safety planning with any students who screen for suicidal ideation. The safety planning process is conducted in collaboration with school counselors and parents are informed.

Another opportunity for education and support is our SOS (Signs of Suicide) presentation. This presentation addresses warning signs for depression and suicide. Students are taught how to seek support for themselves or a friend. These presentations are typically offered 1-3 months after the loss.

For School Faculty and Staff

After losing a student to suicide, many schools have questions about how to handle the aftermath. We offer debriefing sessions to discuss best-practice and ethical responsibilities for school staff based on the American Foundation For Suicide Prevention’s guidelines.

Common questions addressed in debriefing sessions include things like:

  • Students want to create a memorial. Should we allow this?

  • How much detail should we provide about the nature of the suicide?

  • How should we handle hurtful comments made on social media?

Training Trusted Adults Presentations are also available as part of our Postvention program. This presentation is designed for school staff and parents to educate about warning signs of depression and suicide.