Postvention
Supporting communities after suicide
When a suicide happens, it affects entire communities. Young people often turn to social media to process their grief by sharing their experience and connecting with others.
The #chatsafe postvention program is a world-first initiative that provides timely, evidence-informed advice to help young people navigate these conversations safely in the immediate aftermath of a suicide in their local community. Our targeted social media campaigns reduce risk, promote wellbeing, and support affected communities.
Sharing life-saving information at a critical time
When a suicide happens in a community, the risk of further youth suicide, or contagion, increases by roughly 300%*. Our research has found, however, that when conversations about suicide are safe, they can help young people to build understanding of self-harm and suicide, share support, and encourage help-seeking for those who may be at risk.
Unsafe online conversations, however, can increase stigma, spread damaging narratives, contribute to further distress and, in some cases, increase risk of further suicide in the community.
The #chatsafe postvention program disrupts the cycle of unsafe online content. We interrupt harmful content with compassionate, evidence-based messages that encourage safe conversations, help-seeking, and wellbeing.
A fast, localised response
Within 24 hours of receiving a request from a partner health authority, our team activates a social media campaign that outs safe and supportive messages into the heart of the affected community.
Our campaigns are:
- geographically targeted to reach people in the local government area impacted by the loss
- adapted depending on the age of those affected
- designed with input from young people, ensuring content is relevant, relatable, and sensitive
- shared across multiple social media platforms to meet people where they’re at
Compassionate, informative, evidence-backed campaigns
We have worked with young people to create content that engages them sensitively when they are going through a bereavement, or seeing distressing online content about suicide.
Our videos and designs include:
- practical advice on how to keep themselves and others safe if they see online conversations about suicide
- encouragement to check in with themselves and look after their wellbeing if they’re feeling low
- information on where and how to seek help
Young people then have the option to explore more detailed advice on our website.
Engaging the whole community
Effective postvention support requires a whole-of-community approach. That’s why, when our campaigns target under 18 audiences, we also create and distribute tailored resources for the key adults in young people’s lives.
Our content for parents and carers includes advice on how to talk to young people about suicide and online safety, and how to create a safe space where they can open up.
Our content for educators shares information on how to support their students’ wellbeing and safe online conversations if the school community is affected.
Partner with us
If your community has experienced a youth suicide, we are here to help. Our team is ready to work with local health authorities and government agencies across Australia to activate a postvention response that supports those most in need. If you are an international organisation, please contact us to see if we can assist in your community.
We work closely with local governments to personalise campaigns as needed. At the end of an activation, we help you have a clear understanding of the impact by sharing campaign report and analysis.
Contact us today to learn more about how the #chatsafe postvention program can support your community.
Email: [email protected]
*Hill NT, Witt K, Rajaram G, McGorry PD, Robinson J. Suicide by young Australians, 2006-2015: a cross-sectional analysis of national coronial data. Med J Aust 2021 Feb;214(3):133-139