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International Journal of Emergency Mental Health and Human Resilience | ISSN: 1522-4821 | Volume: 20
July 25-26, 2018 | Vancouver, Canada
Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing
14th World Congress on
Mental Health and Wellbeing
5th World Congress on
&
Exposure to suicide at work: How to manage incidents and support staff and consumers
Cheryl Staal
The Australian Community Workers Association, Australia
Many of the 2,088 Australians who died by suicide in 2016 were employees of some type. Based on Cerel et al. research
over a ¼ Million Australians could have been affected. However, if the deceased had a significant role within a business,
lengthy collegial relationships, or strong relationships with clients/consumers the number exposed to, or affected by the death
could be exponentially larger. Any workplace can be impacted by suicide through staff witness the incident, discovering a
body, losing a client, another staff member or someone they cared about by suicide. Knowing trauma reactions and grief can
impact on personal functioning and productivity, the impact of suicide and duty of care to prevent and mitigate psychological
injury in any workplace is a significant issue for its management. Further, if an employee witnessed the suicide or discovered
the body the complexity of trauma for the staff member/s is immense. There is little awareness of the potential impact among
workplaces, so they generally are underprepared. Through practice, this presenter is aware of the diverse range of businesses and
staff roles most likely to be impacted including hospitality, cleaning, medical, transport, legal and emergency services. Also of
the personal impacts on teams and clients; and important aspects to manage according to best practice. Responding to suicide
is a unique set of circumstances, not generally included in management courses or organizational policies. Therefore, this
presentation will heighten awareness about the potential of such an event occurring and outline matters to core considerations
when managing incidents for individual employees, customers and the business as a whole. It will suggest effective strategies
and sources to build the business’s critical incident and response capacity. Also how best to support staff sensitively, assist them
to return to work, and manage possible repercussions across the business.
Biography
Cheryl Staal has extensive experience in suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention and has supported many clients affected by suicide as a witness, dis-
covering a body or losing some they cared about. She presents unique evidenced-based best practice training she designed for workplaces to manage incidents
and support staff exposed to suicide. Having been bereaved by suicide herself enables her to meld personal and practical experience, theories, and skills to guide
practitioners, businesses, and others. Cheryl has spoken at many conferences regarding suicide, impacts on witnesses/discoverers, domestic violence, elder
abuse and other societal issues. Along with advising organizations and government on designing and implementing integrated services suicide, domestic violence,
and elder abuse fields. She is also highly skilled in providing professional supervision and professional development training for practitioners and workplaces.
Cheryl Staal, IJEMHHR 2018, Volume: 20
DOI: 10.4172/1522-4821-C3-017