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3 Intuition, Imagination and Innovation in Suicidology Conference The Beginning of the Nightmare:
The Communication of a Suicide Death
Invited lecture · Diego De Leo
Prof. Diego De Leo (the head of the Slovene Centre for Suicide Research and pro-
fessor of Psychiatry at the Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia), is considered
as one of top five world leading experts in suicidology by the international pro-
fessional and scientific public. His research expertise includes definitional issues
in suicidology, culture and suicide, international trends and national suicide pre-
vention programmes. He has received numerous world-renowned awards for his
scientific work. His bibliography includes over 420 peer-reviewed articles and 180
book chapters.
Abstract. Reporting the death of a loved one is a delicate task. How this is do-
ne can have a significant impact on both the recipient and the notifier, espe-
cially in the case of sudden, violent and traumatic death. If the death to be
communicated concerns a case of suicide, emotional involvement and reacti-
ons can be particularly complex and disturbing. An empathetic, sensitive and
attentive communication to the needs of the survivors can represent a first
opportunity to support the bereavement process. The acquisition of specific
skills for the delivery of the death notification is necessary for the professio-
nal who carries out the communication to increase self-efficacy, knowledge
and perception of competence in this area. The declaration of death is con-
figured as a process divided into sequential phases; the act of notification
constitutes its central phase. Adequate preparation on the part of the com-
municator would be appropriate to contain the impact of the trauma both
on the notifier and on the recipient of the notification. For the latter, appro-
priate assistance and follow-up protocols should be defined. An overview of
best practices in the task of reporting sudden, violent and traumatic death is
presented, and guidance is provided for formulating practices appropriate to
different professions and for developing effective educational programmes.
16 https://doi.org/10.26493/978-961-293-251-0.7
The Communication of a Suicide Death
Invited lecture · Diego De Leo
Prof. Diego De Leo (the head of the Slovene Centre for Suicide Research and pro-
fessor of Psychiatry at the Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia), is considered
as one of top five world leading experts in suicidology by the international pro-
fessional and scientific public. His research expertise includes definitional issues
in suicidology, culture and suicide, international trends and national suicide pre-
vention programmes. He has received numerous world-renowned awards for his
scientific work. His bibliography includes over 420 peer-reviewed articles and 180
book chapters.
Abstract. Reporting the death of a loved one is a delicate task. How this is do-
ne can have a significant impact on both the recipient and the notifier, espe-
cially in the case of sudden, violent and traumatic death. If the death to be
communicated concerns a case of suicide, emotional involvement and reacti-
ons can be particularly complex and disturbing. An empathetic, sensitive and
attentive communication to the needs of the survivors can represent a first
opportunity to support the bereavement process. The acquisition of specific
skills for the delivery of the death notification is necessary for the professio-
nal who carries out the communication to increase self-efficacy, knowledge
and perception of competence in this area. The declaration of death is con-
figured as a process divided into sequential phases; the act of notification
constitutes its central phase. Adequate preparation on the part of the com-
municator would be appropriate to contain the impact of the trauma both
on the notifier and on the recipient of the notification. For the latter, appro-
priate assistance and follow-up protocols should be defined. An overview of
best practices in the task of reporting sudden, violent and traumatic death is
presented, and guidance is provided for formulating practices appropriate to
different professions and for developing effective educational programmes.
16 https://doi.org/10.26493/978-961-293-251-0.7
