Advocacy organisations

Abstract

According to Hungarian surveys, family members and relatives of persons who committed suicide are in substantial risk (26-fold) of also committing suicide, in comparison to members of the control group. Unfortunately there is no institutionalised help available in Hungary for suicidal families, neither in workplaces, to colleagues of the deceased, nor to officials dealing with the cases, like ambulance staff, police officers who may be confronted with suicide incidents regularly and may themselves turn to be at risk of "repetition". Nonprofit organisations and foundations like the "At Home in Soul" (Hungarian name: Lélekben Otthon) regard as its prime task to support members of suicidal families, survivals (those left behind). One form of support is the dissemination of information leaflets to concerned families, police departments and ambulance centres, compiled by psychiatrists, psychologists and based on foreign good practice and experience. We have trained volunteers, who are able to provide support in the mourning process that shows differences from "normal" deaths. Guidelines are being elaborated to members of the media concerning ways of communicating suicide incidents, with a view to avoiding repetition. The support of our volunteers is now also requested in workplaces, former colleagues of the suicide victims.