Suicide bereavement peer work is an emerging field that addresses critical gaps in traditional postvention support. The model integrates a flexible support model with crucial elements like lived experience education, co-reflection, and individualised support plans. This model moves beyond conventional approaches to grief by emphasising post-traumatic growth and empowerment, ensuring peer support is responsive and person-centred.
The new structure of suicide bereavement design will allow a peer worker and a person seeking support to work “together towards tomorrow”
This presentation introduces a newly designed suicide bereavement peer support model that adapts to the unique needs of those bereaved and impacted by suicide.
It will demonstrate the role of lived experience education in equipping peer workers with safe, reflective and meaningful support. We discuss how the development of individualised support plans ensures purposeful and meaningful interactions. We frame post-traumatic growth and empowerment as central goals of bereavement peer work, moving away from the traditional notions of “healing” and “recovery”.
We also explore how the model is strengthened by: lived experience education - a formal training process that prepares peer workers to use their personal stories with care and intentionality. A peer-to-peer reflective practice ensures peer workers continuously evaluate and improve their approach while maintaining ethical boundaries. Support plans tailored to each individual, that ensure that every interaction is meaningful, contributing to the participant's overall growth and sense of empowerment.
By Integrating a newly designed model, lived experience education, and co-reflection presents a comprehensive and forward-thinking approach to suicide bereavement peer work. By focusing on post-traumatic growth and empowerment, this model provides a meaningful alternative to traditional notions of grief support. As we move towards “together toward tomorrow”, this bereavement peer work model sets a new paradigm for suicide postvention, ensuring peer support that is both flexible and transformative.