The ''Supporting you through suicide bereavement when there has been Domestic and Family Violence'' resource was developed due to the increased number of women accessing the StandBy support after suicide program in Western Australia who had lost their partner to suspected suicide and had experienced Family and Domestic Violence by this partner. We learnt quickly that the support needed for these women was different to other generalised suicide bereavement support we were providing, resulting from conflicting emotions of relief and guilt. Victim survivors of Family and Domestic Violence (FDV) are often subjected to emotional abuse, including manipulation through suicide threats and possible attempts.
A working group was set up through an Expression of interest (EOI) process which comprised of a multidisciplinary team, inclusive of Lived Experience, Women's Legal services, Family and Domestic Violence refuge and crisis services, non-government organisations and WA's peak body for Family and Domestic Violence, the Centre for Women's Safety and Wellbeing. Over a period of 8 months, the working group met monthly to collaborate and consult around content for the resource.
When StandBy engages, many women don't identify that they have experienced significant family and domestic violence, however when reading through the content of the resource they can relate to many of the types of violence listed. The resource is to be only use in face-to-face sessions when the contents can be worked through sensitively with those being supported and only to this cohort of women who have experienced both suicide bereavement and family and domestic violence.
It should not be provided online or posted, and it should not be provided to other members of the family or friendship groups of the deceased, as the emotions experienced are different to those of the victim/survivor.
The resource combines education and awareness of suicide bereavement and Family and Domestic violence, help seeking information and self-care strategies. The WA team have been using the resource for over 12 months and have been gathering feedback. StandBy National have also edited the resource to ensure it can be used Australia wide as a national resource.
''You asked me how I felt after reading the resource and I guess the best way to describe it would be that it took away the isolated feeling by being able to relate to it unlike other suicide support stories and content.