Developed from research gathered during the Victorian funded Suicide Prevention Place-Based trials, the kit will minimise the long-term impacts of trauma for anyone dealing with grief and loss from suicide or sudden death.

Victoria-wide, there has been a 10.8% increase in suicides from 2021 to 2023 for the January-to-May period with south eastern Melbourne recording the second highest number of deaths by suicide or self-inflicted injuries in Australia between 2016 and 2020. Alarmingly, this upward trend in total deaths by suicide is likely to continue, according to the most recent year-to-date report from the Coroners Court of Victoria (January-to-May).

Loss by suicide can have serious and lasting effects on those left behind and their needs are complex, requiring a collaborative and multi-faceted support response that is unique for each individual.

With over 50 industry professionals in attendance, our thanks go to Tim Richardson MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention and Louise Flynn from Jesuit Social Services; for their heartfelt addresses on the value of this critical resource. Special thanks also to Su-Rose McIntyre, who bravely shared her lived experience and provided insight into the significance of this toolkit to support those dealing with the aftermath of sudden loss.

The ‘Growing around grief’ postvention toolkit is now available for download from the SEMPHN website and comprises a main booklet, plus four supplementary booklets. Each book can be used independently, to address the needs of specific groups. Please share this kit with your networks, friends and family.

For further information on this resource, please reach out to Stana Cubra stana.cubra@semphn.org.au.