Expert guidance to inform coordinated suicide postvention responses: A Delphi study.
7 affiliations
- 1Centre for Mental Health and Community Wellbeing, Melbourne School of Public Health, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, Victoria, Australia. [email protected].
- 2Centre for Mental Health and Community Wellbeing, Melbourne School of Public Health, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, Victoria, Australia.
- 3Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network, Box Hill, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
- 4Eastern Health Infant, Child and Youth Mental Health Service, Box Hill, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
- 5Jesuit Social Services, Support After Suicide, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
- 6Mental Health Program, Monash Health, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
- 7Mildura Base Public Hospital, Area Mental Health & Wellbeing Services, Mildura, Victoria, Australia.
Abstract
Background
The impact of suicide is profound for affected individuals, families and communities. Suicide postvention responses, inclusive of bereavement support, have been recognised as having made a valuable contribution to suicide prevention efforts. Postvention Protocol Response Groups (PPRGs) have emerged as a central mechanism to facilitate a coordinated service system response following a suspected suicide, mobilising a range of local services to provide early intervention support to bereaved communities across a defined geographical area. There is an important role to be played by these key agencies, support services, and community groups in responding to these impacts. However, little is known about the effective implementation of PPRGs.Methods
We used the Delphi method to obtain expert consensus regarding best practice implementation of PPRGs. The two-round online Delphi survey involved a panel of 30 Australian experts (comprising past or present PPRG members, postvention experts, and response beneficiaries) who rated statements in terms of their importance for PPRG implementation.Results
The 126 statements endorsed by 80% or more of panel members as "essential" or "important" regarding PPRG implementation covered key aspects of stakeholder engagement, governance, practice principles, operational aspects, data surveillance, preventative capacity, sustainability, and special considerations in rural areas. Expert recommendations will serve as the foundation for the development of a PPRG implementation guide.Conclusions
This study provides valuable expert guidance and practice-based evidence to inform the establishment of PPRGs in areas of need, enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of existing PPRGs, and strengthen the implementation of localised postvention responses.
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BibTeX
@article{reifels2026expert,
title = {{Expert guidance to inform coordinated suicide postvention responses: A Delphi study.}},
author = {Lennart Reifels and Trisnasari Fraser and Alison Asche and Mark Bekerman and Melody Sutton and Louise Flynn and Sonja Bottern and Robyn Humphries and Merryl Whyte and Karl Andriessen},
journal = {BMC public health},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1186/s12889-026-28686-2},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42928196},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Expert guidance to inform coordinated suicide postvention responses: A Delphi study.
AU - Lennart Reifels
AU - Trisnasari Fraser
AU - Alison Asche
AU - Mark Bekerman
AU - Melody Sutton
AU - Louise Flynn
AU - Sonja Bottern
AU - Robyn Humphries
AU - Merryl Whyte
AU - Karl Andriessen
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/29
JO - BMC public health
DO - 10.1186/s12889-026-28686-2
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42928196
AB - Background The impact of suicide is profound for affected individuals, families and communities. Suicide postvention responses, inclusive of bereavement support, have been recognised as having made a valuable contribution to suicide prevention efforts. Postvention Protocol Response Groups (PPRGs) have emerged as a central mechanism to facilitate a coordinated service system response following a suspected suicide, mobilising a range of local services to provide early intervention support to bereaved communities across a defined geographical area. There is an important role to be played by these key agencies, support services, and community groups in responding to these impacts. However, little is known about the effective implementation of PPRGs.Methods We used the Delphi method to obtain expert consensus regarding best practice implementation of PPRGs. The two-round online Delphi survey involved a panel of 30 Australian experts (comprising past or present PPRG members, postvention experts, and response beneficiaries) who rated statements in terms of their importance for PPRG implementation.Results The 126 statements endorsed by 80% or more of panel members as "essential" or "important" regarding PPRG implementation covered key aspects of stakeholder engagement, governance, practice principles, operational aspects, data surveillance, preventative capacity, sustainability, and special considerations in rural areas. Expert recommendations will serve as the foundation for the development of a PPRG implementation guide.Conclusions This study provides valuable expert guidance and practice-based evidence to inform the establishment of PPRGs in areas of need, enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of existing PPRGs, and strengthen the implementation of localised postvention responses.
SN - 1471-2458
ER -