Conference Papers

Postvention in adolescent suicide

Graham Martin

Published in:
Preventing youth suicide : proceedings of a conference held 24-26 July 1990
Sandra McKillop (ed.)
ISBN 0 642 17512 8 ; ISSN 1034-5086
Canberra : Australian Institute of Criminology, 1992
(AIC Conference Proceedings; no. 13)

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Abstract

The suicides of two students from an Adelaide school led to an extensive process of grief work with families, friends of the deceased, other students, teachers and parents. The process was reviewed, and research was initiated to attempt to understand the effect of the suicides on the wider community. A further suicide in another school offered the opportunity to provide a more comprehensive process of grief work. Martin shows how a completed suicide offers the opportunity to support those who grieve the loss, and predict those who are vulnerable and at possible risk themselves for attempting or completing suicide.