The impacts of a death by suicide can ripple throughout a community, affecting family and friends, school communities, colleagues, social networks, first responders and health workers. It is estimated that for every suicide, more than 135 people are personally exposed and about a third of those people have some degree of impact that might lead them to require additional support at some point. The community impacts of a death by suicide can be even starker for regional communities and a coordinated response that recognises this is essential.

The Southern NSW Cross-Agency Communication and Response Protocol has been developed to assist organisations, services and community networks in Southern NSW to provide a consistent and coordinated local response that respects and supports a child or young person, their family and their community who are bereaved or impacted by a suicide death or a serious attempt.

This Protocol, initiated in 2022 by SNSW Local Health District, has been developed as a partnership between StandBy Support After Suicide, COORDINARE - SE NSW Primary Health Network and the NSW Department of Education. Consultation was completed with a range of other Agencies, as well as people with lived experience of bereavement. A number of already existing postvention response plans were key references in developing this Southern NSW Protocol.

The Protocol has now been enacted for suspected suicide deaths that was likely to affect a school community, including current and past students, parents, family members and staff.

The Protocol has a central notification and response coordination function, with a tiered approach that ensures a clear process for assessing the level of risk associated and expanding the response as required.

Collaborative relationships have built between Agencies through the development and enactment of this Protocol, and further suicide prevention work has developed from these networks.