How Samaritans’ training is supporting police officers in suicide prevention and postvention

The challenge:

Sussex Police cover a wide area, including cities, ports, villages and an international airport. Their job involves preventing crime, responding to emergencies, and investigating incidents. Officers often deal with tough situations, including responding to suicides and supporting grieving families.

Supervisors face extra challenges because they handle many suicide cases, manage scenes, investigate and support those affected. This includes colleagues who may struggle with the emotional impact. For a long time, dealing with trauma has just been seen as part of the job, especially for those with more experience. This can make it hard for officers to ask for help or talk about their own mental health.

The solution:

Sussex Police recognised the importance of postvention in suicide prevention, so they collaborated with Samaritans to develop a bespoke workshop, ‘Managing the Effects of Suicide – A Postvention Workshop.’

Samaritans worked closely with Sussex Police to make sure the training focused on the real challenges officers face. The workshop focused on the circles of impact when a suicide occurs, the emotional and psychological effects of trauma, the available support for officers, their teams and bereaved families, and the importance of open discussions in a safe and supportive environment.

The training used real examples and practical advice to help officers handle the emotional impact of suicide-related incidents and provide better support to colleagues and the public.

The impact:

After the workshop, officers felt more confident dealing with the aftermath of suicide, both at work and in their personal lives. Many participants highlighted how the training improved their ability to support bereaved families and colleagues, as well as their own wellbeing.

One officer shared, “The facilitator made it very conversational and a safe space to share and learn. Thank you.”

With a better understanding of available support, officers now feel more able to ask for help themselves and guide others to the right services. The training has contributed to a more resilient workforce and enhanced Sussex Police’s ability to provide compassionate, informed responses to those affected by suicide.