Suicide postvention for staff and students on university campuses: a scoping review

Abstract

ObjectiveTo examine current knowledge about suicide bereavement and postvention interventions for university staff and students.DesignScoping review.Data sources and eligibilityWe conducted systematic searches in 12 electronic databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Africa-Wide Information, PsycARTICLES, Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition, Academic Search Premier, SocINDEX through the EBSCOHOST platform; Cochrane Library, Web of Science, SCOPUS), hand searched lists of references of included articles and consulted with library experts during September 2021 and June 2022. Eligible studies were screened against the inclusion criteria independently by two reviewers. Only studies published in English were included.Data extraction and synthesisScreening was conducted by two independent reviewers following a three-step article screening process. Biographical data and study characteristics were extracted using a data extraction form and synthesised.ResultsOur search strategy identified 7691 records from which 3170 abstracts were screened. We assessed 29 full texts and included 17 articles for the scoping review. All studies were from high-income countries (USA, Canada, UK). The review identified no postvention intervention studies on university campuses. Study designs were mostly descriptive quantitative or mixed methods. Data collection and sampling were heterogeneous.ConclusionStaff and students require support measures due to the impact of suicide bereavement and the unique nature of the university context. There is a need for further research to move from descriptive studies to focus on intervention studies, particularly at universities in low-income and middle-income countries.

A Qualitative Exploration of Nurse Faculty Experiences Related to the Sudden Unanticipated Death of a Nursing Student

“…Some faculty members express regrets that they could have played a role in the prevention of the student's death 2. A more intense grief response has been reported by staff/faculty who experienced the death of a student by suicide 10. The current study did not identify differences in responses or triggers; however, participants experiencing a student suicide reported a lingering grief that left them questioning interactions with the student and wondering if they could have done more.…”

“…2 A more intense grief response has been reported by staff/faculty who experienced the death of a student by suicide. 10 The current study did not identify differences in responses or triggers; however, participants experiencing a student suicide reported a lingering grief that left them questioning interactions with the student and wondering if they could have done more. This warrants the need for faculty development workshops and grief support training.…”

“…According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3 the age-adjusted death rates for 15 to 24-year-old increased by 5.6% from 2020 to 2021. A growing number of publications on college student bereavement through the lens of the grieving student exists, [4][5][6][7][8][9][10] but there is minimal exploration into the emotional responses and potential challenges facing faculty. 2,10 Unique concerns faculty face in their role include how to support the grieving student while also grieving.…”

“…A growing number of publications on college student bereavement through the lens of the grieving student exists, [4][5][6][7][8][9][10] but there is minimal exploration into the emotional responses and potential challenges facing faculty. 2,10 Unique concerns faculty face in their role include how to support the grieving student while also grieving. Although resources exist for students, faculty may also experience grief and may or may not have support navigating the grieving process.…”