Have your say on local suicide bereavement services – Herts and West Essex residents

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Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Systems (ICS) are committed to working in partnership in delivering high standards of care and improving the health and well-being of the population we serve.
Between 2017-19 over 350 suicides took place in Hertfordshire and West Essex. The impacts of suicide can be wide-reaching, and for this reason, we are inviting anyone who has been affected by suicide to consider taking part in our survey. The purpose of the survey is to help us improve our understanding of the needs and support that is required by those effected by suicide bereavement.

The closing date for responding to this survey is 19 November 2021.
If you would like to be part of a small focus group to help shape the new service, and have your say, please email SuicidePreventionHerts@hertfordshire.gov.uk
The experience and stories of those with lived experience of suicide bereavement are vital in shaping the future of our services.

Anyone who has been bereaved or affected by suicide, or needs to talk to someone, is urged to contact either the Samaritans on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org, or the SoBS National helpline on 0300 111 5065 or email email.support@uksobs.org
A list of useful links which can help to support you can also be found at www.hopeagain.org.uk/hope-again-useful-links.

Please be aware that we will ask you some questions that may trigger distressing and difficult emotions for anyone who has experienced or been affected by a death by suicide. There are no right or wrong answers, and you do not have to answer all the questions if you feel uncomfortable. If you feel unable to continue at any point, please give as much, or as little, information that you feel able to give, and stop the survey at any time if the questions make you feel uncomfortable. We are grateful for any information you are able to provide.

This survey is for adults 18+. There are alterative surveys for 11-18 years olds and Under 11s which are available on different links.

1. Following your bereavement from suicide, when and what were the most challenging times for you?

2. Please tell us in your own words what helped you most when you were bereaved or affected by suicide.

3. Please tell us what, if anything, could have been done or handled differently?

4. Please tell us whether you feel you received the support you needed from the following sources:

	No support	Little support	Moderate support	Strong support	Very strong support	N/A
Friends and family	Friends and family No support	Friends and family Little support	Friends and family Moderate support	Friends and family Strong support	Friends and family Very strong support	Friends and family N/A
GP surgery	GP surgery No support	GP surgery Little support	GP surgery Moderate support	GP surgery Strong support	GP surgery Very strong support	GP surgery N/A
Police	Police No support	Police Little support	Police Moderate support	Police Strong support	Police Very strong support	Police N/A
Coroner's Office	Coroner's Office No support	Coroner's Office Little support	Coroner's Office Moderate support	Coroner's Office Strong support	Coroner's Office Very strong support	Coroner's Office N/A
Mental Health Services	Mental Health Services No support	Mental Health Services Little support	Mental Health Services Moderate support	Mental Health Services Strong support	Mental Health Services Very strong support	Mental Health Services N/A
Voluntary Community Organisation or charity	Voluntary Community Organisation or charity No support	Voluntary Community Organisation or charity Little support	Voluntary Community Organisation or charity Moderate support	Voluntary Community Organisation or charity Strong support	Voluntary Community Organisation or charity Very strong support	Voluntary Community Organisation or charity N/A
Workplace	Workplace No support	Workplace Little support	Workplace Moderate support	Workplace Strong support	Workplace Very strong support	Workplace N/A
Place of Worship	Place of Worship No support	Place of Worship Little support	Place of Worship Moderate support	Place of Worship Strong support	Place of Worship Very strong support	Place of Worship N/A
School/College/University	School/College/University No support	School/College/University Little support	School/College/University Moderate support	School/College/University Strong support	School/College/University Very strong support	School/College/University N/A
Other (please state below)	Other (please state below) No support	Other (please state below) Little support	Other (please state below) Moderate support	Other (please state below) Strong support	Other (please state below) Very strong support	Other (please state below) N/A

Comments:

5. Please tell us how important you feel the following support is:

	Very important	Important	Moderately important	Slightly important	Not important
Emotional support	Emotional support Very important	Emotional support Important	Emotional support Moderately important	Emotional support Slightly important	Emotional support Not important
Practical support	Practical support Very important	Practical support Important	Practical support Moderately important	Practical support Slightly important	Practical support Not important
Bereavement counselling	Bereavement counselling Very important	Bereavement counselling Important	Bereavement counselling Moderately important	Bereavement counselling Slightly important	Bereavement counselling Not important
Other (please state below)	Other (please state below) Very important	Other (please state below) Important	Other (please state below) Moderately important	Other (please state below) Slightly important	Other (please state below) Not important

Comments:

6. It is proposed that as part of the support service those bereaved or affected by a suicide would be contacted as soon as possible after the death has occurred. At what stage after the loss do you feel this contact should be made?

7. For how long after the loss should this support be available?

8. Do you think support should be offered in a group, an individual or a family setting? Please tick all that apply

9. What do you think are the best ways for bereavement support to be offered? Please tick all that apply

10. We would like your thoughts on how we can improve how we respond to suicide as a community. Please could you tell us what you feel is most needed from those around you when you are bereaved or affected by suicide.

Hertfordshire County Council