Systems Thinking

Systems thinking tools are currently being used to address the suicide health issue in the suicide loss survivor population. Systems thinking combines various elements and factors to generate change in actions, behaviors, decisions, and infrastructure. To adequately address the grief support and recovery of suicide loss survivors, systems thinking is necessary to provide a successful and sustainable healing process for individuals and communities. Problem identification is the first step. It became evident that a suicide affects survivors that are family, friends, co-workers, colleagues, teammates, social and spiritual group-mates, and communities of the decedent. The suicide loss survivor has needs that are beyond basic grief and resources are needed in all social determinants of health. The third identified problem included the fact that suicide grief and recovery is different than other loss grief. It was also identified that mental health care practitioners need training in suicide loss survivor grief therapy and support groups to feel confident and competent in providing services. Policy analysis begins with looking at what exists within the NAMI and mental health organizations to address support of suicide loss survivors. There was a desire to help the suicide loss survivors as it became more apparent that there was a need to reduce the risk factors of more suicide and to increase protective factors for individuals and the community. The Suicide Postvention Community Action Plan is the beginning of creating a protocol for supporting suicide loss survivors at a community level and has potential of being used for development of policy within different parts of the community and within the community as a whole. Evaluation will need to be made throughout the development and implementation of the program to provide for adjustments that needed in the action plan and support groups. Stakeholder engagement will be critical and best be supported by regular roundtable discussions, evaluation of the community action plan, and inclusion of newly discovered stakeholders that provide further support of the suicide loss survivor.