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When the Worst Happens: A Roadmap for Workplace Postvention with Alison Clements | Ep. 66

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Overview

In this episode we tackle…

·      What is workplace postvention, and why does it matter after a suicide loss?

·      How is a suicide postvention protocol different from a workplace crisis response plan?

·      How can organizations prepare for the emotional impact of suicide in the workplace?

·      What are the key components of an effective workplace postvention plan?

·      Why are most workplaces unprepared for suicide bereavement?

·      How does Alison Clements’ evidence-based model improve postvention responses in high-risk industries?

·      What are the long-term impacts of suicide exposure on staff, and how can leaders support recovery?

·      How do you tailor postvention toolkits to fit different workplace contexts?

·      What are the first steps to create a workplace suicide postvention policy?

·      How can postvention strategies help prevent future suicides at work?

What Is Workplace Postvention?

Postvention refers to the planned support provided to individuals and teams impacted by a death due to suicide. For many organizations, especially those supporting high-risk or vulnerable populations, suicide loss is not just tragic — it can also be traumatic. Yet, most workplaces are not prepared.

In this episode, I chat with Alison Clements, a psychologist in private practice and Adjunct Research Fellow at the University of Western Australia. Alison has spent the last six years partnering with 22 diverse workplaces from teams of 100 to 57,000, to co-design tailored postvention toolkits. Her internationally published model is now being adapted for major institutions, such as the UK National Health Service.

Episode Takeaways

#1 The 3-Step Process to get your organization postvention-ready:

  1. Train Staff and Leaders in trauma-informed postvention support

  2. Create a Clear Procedure with defined tasks and goals

  3. Integrate Postvention into Policy and community-based support systems

#2 Why consultation with staff is essential to designing a response that’s trusted and context-specific

Alison’s model has significantly improved awareness, confidence, and preparedness among staff and leaders—even in large, complex systems—by providing clear, evidence-based guidance tailored to each workplace’s unique context. Her work underscores an urgent call to action: while suicide loss is far from rare in many industries, the tools and training needed to respond effectively remain scarce.

About Alison Clements

Alison is a practicing psychologist and Adjunct Research Fellow in the School of Allied Health at the University of Western Australia. She’s the lead developer of an evidence-based workplace postvention model published in Crisis and the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Her work informs national frameworks and has recently been recognized by a first responder agency seeking the first-ever suicide prevention and response framework in Western Australia.

Fun Fact: Although she lives in the world’s most isolated major city (Perth), Alison’s two favorite cities are New York and Hanoi.

Learn more about Alison’s work:

 

Additional Resources