Who is at risk?

Mou e va’a e taha. `Oku ongo katoa ia ki he fu`u `akau. When one branch breaks, the whole tree feels it.

After a death by suicide or after a suicide attempt, those who are left behind could be at risk. Everyone is different and everyone reacts differently to grief and loss. Some people may be at greater risk in the way they respond to grief, loss and death by suicide and may require professional intervention. 

Research shows these groups are particularly at risk:

• People who are related to the person who made the attempt or who died.
• People who are connected in some way to the person who made the attempt or who died (e.g. friends, people from the same school or on the same team).
• People who identify with the person who made the attempt or who died (e.g. from the same ethnic group). 
• People who are isolated and/or lack support networks.
• People who were close to the place of the attempt or death (e.g. found the body or witnessed the attempt or death).
• People who have suffered a recent loss, a major stress or traumatic event.
• People with existing depression, post-traumatic stress disorder or other mental health problems (e.g. those who have previously attempted suicide or those abusing alcohol or drugs).
• People who feel responsible for failing to see the signs or failing to prevent the death.

For more information about who is at risk, contact Clinical Advisory Services Aotearoa (CASA).

What to do if you’re worried about someone.