Best and promising practices in suicide bereavement support services : Alberta takes action on suicide

EVALUATION TOOLS AND PROCESSES The evaluation tools and approach findings in the literature are summarized in the following seven key statements: 1. As no standardized means or measures of suicide bereavement support services exist in the literature, a unique approach is necessary to respond to the needs of the Alberta environment. [...] One of the initial steps in achieving the goal of improving intervention support for survivors was to develop and enhance suicide bereavement support services in the regions through the Active Postvention Initiative, 2007-2010 (AMHB, 2007). [...] Based on this review and analysis of the literature, the AMHB will have information enabling it to better support the appropriate development and enhancement of suicide bereavement support services in Alberta, in collaboration with the many potential partners and stakeholders. [...] The latter two are more current views and integrative in nature (though not yet recognized in the field of thanatology); they are able to incorporate and respect unique cultural traditions, and explore the meaning of the death. [...] This natural result of the passage of time may be responsible for some of the perspectives in the literature that indicate suicide grief is not different from other forms of grief.