CIPR AND IOIC SHARE GUIDE TO HELP ORGANISATIONS COMMUNICATE SUICIDE
The Chartered Institute of Public Relations and Institute of Internal Communicators have published a new skills guide providing a framework for sensitively communicating the suicide of a colleague with various stakeholders.
The free to access guide titled ‘Helping organisations when they need to communicate suicide’ outlines five steps on how to prepare for, respond to, communicate and manage communication related to a suicide internally and externally.
It includes guidance on how to communicate the news with press and authorities, alongside specific information on the use of language. Readers are advised to mentally prepare to be confronted with some challenging topics within the content.
Rachel Royall, chair of the CIPR Health Group and IoIC fellow, says, “One suicide is one too many, however there were 5,224 suicides registered in England and Wales last year and around 10,000 calls taken by the Samaritans each day. Therefore, communicating about suicide and mental health is a daily task for many working in internal communications and PR.”
“The aim of this guide is to support those colleagues who have to do that. It provides them with a framework and signposts them to support for their own wellbeing. Many thanks to all the contributors to this guide and those who have looked over it. Your support is greatly appreciated and has helped to produce a valuable and important piece of work,” adds Royall.
