A new guide aims to help veterinary teams cope after one of their members dies by suicide, with particular focus on making sure it doesn’t happen again.

The guide, released as National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month ended, is a collaboration by the AVMA and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, in partnership with the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America, the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association and the Veterinary Medical Association Executives.

“Supporting veterinary medical professionals in the aftermath of a colleague’s suicide is vital,” said Christine Moutier, chief medical officer at AFSP. “Because suicide loss survivors can develop significant grief and even physical and mental health issues if not appropriately supported, postvention is a critical step and is actually part of suicide prevention. The appropriate handling of the aftermath of a suicide in a veterinary office can pave the way for a workplace culture that is smart about mental health.”

The guide—titled “After a Suicide: A Guide for Veterinary Workplaces“—includes:

Best practices for how workplace leaders and staff should respond in the immediate aftermath of a suicide.
Guidance on helping the workplace community grieve and cope in the short and long term.
Tips on working with the media and community partners.
Information on how to safely memorialize employees and to support other members of the community to reduce the risk of suicide contagion.

Guide helps veterinary teams cope after suicide