What to Do After a Suicide Attempt or Death by Suicide in Your Agency

When a coworker attempts or dies by suicide, the whole agency feels it. Learn how to support your team, honor the person, and navigate grief and fallout without causing more harm.

You walk into work and hear the words you never wanted to hear: “One of our own attempted suicide,” or, “We lost someone to suicide last night.” The room goes quiet, people are in shock, and you’re left wondering what to say, what to do, and how to help without making things worse.

A suicide attempt or death by suicide inside your agency hits harder than almost anything else. It affects morale, trust, and the sense of safety in your “second family.” In the middle of all that, peer supporters and leaders are often expected to somehow hold everyone together.

In this episode, we’ll walk through what to do after a suicide attempt or death by suicide in your agency, how to support the team, honor the person, and handle the ripple effects with wisdom and care.

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL LEARN:

• What to focus on in the first 24–72 hours after a suicide attempt or death by suicide
• How to talk about what happened without glamorizing suicide or spreading harmful details
• How to support the people closest to the situation and care for yourself and your peer support team in the weeks and months that follow
• You can’t undo what happened. But you can show up in a way that helps your people grieve, heal, and move forward without feeling abandoned or alone.

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LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bartleger

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Website: www.survivingyourshift.com

Want to find out how I can help you build a peer support program in your organization or provide training? Schedule a no-obligation call or Zoom meeting with me here.

Mentioned in this episode:

CISM Individual Lake Charles Training

This Assisting Individuals CISM training gives you a clear, proven framework for supporting individuals after difficult calls, losses, or traumatic events, without turning the conversation into therapy. Learn when and how to use the Assisting Individuals model appropriately, practical skills for one-on-one crisis support after critical incidents, and how this training fits into a strong peer support or CISM program. Training Dates: January 15–16, 2026 Location: Lake Charles, Louisiana Host: With You SWLA Underwritten By: Crisis Response Care Cost: $50 Register at https://www.survivingyourshift.com/individual