Table 1 - Community plan for the prevention and containment of a suicide cluster

Phase 1: Preparedness

Identify a lead agency or steering committee to develop and host the plan

This decision should be made on the basis of:

• Organisational mandates and existing responsibilities;

• Existing networks and relationships;

• Cultural considerations and community access; and

• Availability of resources, particularly skilled and knowledgeable staff and time

Identify relevant available contacts and resources

A community plan should include the names and contact details of individuals and organisations that can come together as a cluster response team. Roles in this team might include:

• Coordinating the response;

• Collecting and monitoring suicide data and information;

• Providing information;

• Identifying and supporting those at risk; and

• Follow-up, including longer term risk reduction programs

Phase 2: Intervention

Establish the facts

A suicide and the possible onset of a cluster may be accompanied by significant rumour and suspicion, including that spread quickly through social media. A member of the cluster response team may need to check with a range of information sources to establish what is happening. For clusters outside of a single facility, information sources might include police, ambulance, hospital emergency departments, coroner’s offices, and community health workers.

It is important for details to be confirmed as soon as possible to enable tailoring of the response, and to ensure responsible, accurate public statements (if any) are made.

Provide ongoing and accurate information

The community plan should include identification of a designated media contact person to coordinate provision of a single, factual account of the situation and the response.

Proactive engagement with the media may help ensure sensitive media reporting that encourages help seeking and doesn’t increase the risk of further suicidal acts.

Identify individuals, groups, and areas of greater risk

Assessing the risk of a cluster forming requires exploration of community, social and environmental domains as well as individual circumstances.

Mapping and screening processes can be used to identify individuals, groups, and areas of potentially elevated suicide risk. Informal processes of observation and the use of safe spaces for debriefing and providing information should also be considered.

Responding to risks and immediate support needs

The community plan will need to identify what services and support can be made available to support those affected by the suicidal act(s). The community should identify how to:

• Provide immediate support to the bereaved, both for day-to-day practical needs and to assist them to cope with their grief;

• Provide information, including about suicide risk, how to talk about suicide, and about available services;

• Increase access to debriefing and counselling for those affected by, or involved in, responding to the crisis;

• Establish support networks (e.g. people who can listen to others’ concerns and monitor their level of risk), and ensure that people at risk are not left alone at critical times;

• Organise group events to encourage a sense of identity and hope and to reduce individuals’ isolation; and

• Reduce access to means of suicide.

Phase 3: Follow-up

Link to longer term suicide prevention work

There is considerable value in linking the crisis response to a longer term program of suicide risk reduction and community recovery. The anniversaries of suicide deaths can bring to the surface a range of difficult emotions for family and friends. The community plan should consider promoting help-seeking and making additional services available at this time.

This guidance links to Rotherham Suicide Prevention and Self-Harm Group.

Revise and update the community plan

The experience of responding to a cluster will provide an opportunity to update and expand the contents of the community plan. Updating the plan may also allow the cluster response team to reflect on and debrief about the experience.

All child suicides should be reviewed at the Child Death Overview Panel (CDOP) and lessons learnt fed into the Rotherham Suicide Prevention Group.