If a Patient Dies by Suicide

Support for health and care professionals

Losing a patient to suicide is one of the most difficult experiences a health and care professional can face. Sadly, it's not uncommon. In the UK, 17 people die by suicide each day - and around five of them are in contact with mental health services.

The emotional impact can be deep and long-lasting. You might feel shocked, saddened, guilty, or professionally shaken. These are natural reactions. Feeling affected doesn’t mean you’ve failed - it means you’re human.

This guide is here to support you.

You’ll find:

Guidance on looking after your own wellbeing
Help with what to say (and do) when contacting a bereaved family
Information about coroners' court and other legal or professional processes
Links to further support and resources

You’re not alone. And you don’t have to go through this alone.

It’s common and normal to feel emotions such as:

Shock
Sadness
Guilt
Anger
Shame
Fear

Many people worry they have made a mistake

You may fear being blamed
You may feel responsible
These are common feelings
You are not alone.

Help is available, and seeking support is a strength.

Do

Ask for time out or adjusted duties if you need them.
Talk to trusted colleagues - talking about your feelings is not breaking confidentiality and can help.
Consider talking it through with a trained professional: Papyrus offers a debrief service
Access specialist mental health support if you need it from:
- Practitioner Health can offer confidential mental health treatment. Reach us here
- See other organisations that can offer support
Acknowledge the impact on yourself and take steps to stay well:
- Use your support network.
- Prioritise sleep
- Connect with friends and colleagues
- Eat well
- Movement
Consider joining a peer support network.

See peer support networks

The Royal College of Psychiatrists

Offer a support network for psychiatrists who have been affected by a patient’s suicide. This Balint-style group meets bimonthly for 90 minutes and is open to psychiatrists of all grades, including those in training.

If you’re interested in joining the group or would like more information, please visit the Royal College of Psychiatrists website.

Doctors in Distress

Run a range of free group-based programmes focused on mental health for all healthcare workers. These vary from, drop-in sessions and creative classes, to webinars where a health professional shares their mental health experience.

Visit the Doctors in Distress website

Eight truths about suicide

10 minute read

This insightful article offers insights into suicide from the experience of Dr Rachel Gibbons, a national expert on the effects of suicide on psychiatrists. The lessons learned are relevant to all healthcare workers seeking a nuanced understanding about suicide.

Find the article here

Rachel's story - a GP's experience

Rachel was in the middle of a busy clinic when she was told that one of her long-term patients had died by suicide. She sat in stunned silence for a moment - but there were still patients waiting. So she carried on, finishing her clinic with a smile that masked the shock rising inside her.

Later, when she finally had a quiet moment, the sadness hit her unexpectedly hard. She hadn’t anticipated how personally this would affect her. She kept going over the last few consultations: "Did I miss something? Should I have done more? Did I do everything I could?"

Although colleagues were kind, there was an unspoken expectation that she would just get on with things. After all, wasn’t this just part of being a doctor?

What haunted her most was the looming inquest. The thought of going to coroner’s court filled her with dread. She had no idea what to expect or how to prepare - and no space to say how scared she felt.

Rachel noticed that she was becoming increasingly tearful and anxious, her sleep was affected and she was struggling to concentrate at work.

She eventually reached out to Practitioner Health. Talking to someone who understood, without judgment, helped her feel less alone - and helped her begin to process what had happened.

Key resources

Find contacts and resources for support

Royal College of Psychiatrists

If a patient dies by suicide

An excellent guide from the Royal College of Psychiatrists when a patient dies by suicide.

Read the guide here

Royal College of Surgeons of England

Supporting surgeons after adverse events

A good-practice guide by the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

Read the guide here

Supporting families after a suicide

If you’ve lost a patient to suicide, you may be wondering how - and whether - to contact their family or friends. This is a deeply emotional and complex time, and it’s natural to feel unsure about what to say or do.

Should I reach out?

There’s no single right answer. Every situation is different, and it’s important to decide on a case-by-case basis who is best placed to make contact. The clinician who cared for the patient may or may not be the most appropriate person.

Why reaching out matters

Families may be experiencing shock, grief, confusion, or even anger. Despite this, many appreciate a thoughtful, compassionate message. A simple acknowledgment can go a long way in showing care and humanity.

Do and Don’t: Reaching Out to Bereaved Families

Do

Consult your team: Decide together who is best placed to make contact.
Offer condolences: A short, sincere message can mean a lot.
Acknowledge the loss: Avoid avoiding. Silence can feel hurtful.
Use clear, compassionate language: Speak honestly, without using jargon.
Be prepared for emotion: Grief responses vary and may include anger.
Signpost to support: Let them know about organisations like Support After Suicide Partnership.

Don't

Avoid contact out of fear: Thoughtful communication is better than silence.
Make assumptions: Every family’s experience and needs are different.
Offer false reassurance: It’s okay not to have answers—listening is powerful.
Use clinical or legalistic language: Keep it human and heartfelt.
Delay too long: Timely contact can feel more supportive than waiting weeks.

Need help finding the right words?

Need help breaking difficult news? See our communication tools

This short postvention guide developed by University College London and the Support After Suicide Partnership offers practical steps on ‘Finding the Words’ to offer support after a suicide.

Finding the words

Resources to Support Families Bereaved by Suicide

Below are trusted organisations and practical tools to help you support someone who has lost a loved one to suicide. These include helplines, downloadable guides, and resources for children, families, and professionals.

See the list of resources

SOBS - Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide

Support for adults who have lost someone to suicide.

Visit the SOBS website

Cruse Bereavement Support

Free, confidential support for anyone who is grieving.

Visit the Cruse website

Help is at Hand

(Support After Suicide Partnership)

A practical guide for people bereaved by suicide.

Visit the Support After Suicide Partnership website

Hope Again - Cruse for Young People

Support and stories for young people grieving a loss.

Visit the Hope Again website

Winston's Wish

Support for bereaved children, young people, families, and professionals.

Visit the Winston’s Wish website

The Inquest Handbook

A guide for bereaved families, friends and advisors.

View the Inquest Handbook

Inquests - what families can expect

Guide to Coroner Services

This document has been produced by the Ministry of Justice. It is intended for bereaved people and others who may be affected by a coroner investigation or are attending a coroner’s inquest.

View the Guide to Coroner Services

The Road Ahead

A guide to dealing with the impact of suicide, produced by If U Care Share Foundation.

View The Road Ahead guide

Suicide Bereavement UK

Key suicide resources

Visit the Suicide Bereavement UK website

At a Loss

UK wide bereavement signposting and information.

Visit the At a Loss website

For managers and team leaders

When a patient dies by suicide, the emotional and professional impact can ripple across the whole team. How the news is communicated, and what support is offered, makes a real difference.

Your leadership matters.

What to do

Acknowledge the emotional toll. Expect a range of emotional reactions. Everyone processes this kind of news differently.
Break the news thoughtfully. Consider the timing and setting. Avoid breaking the news during clinics or busy shifts if possible, as this may leave little space for reflection or immediate support.
Recognise that time out may be needed. Some staff may need immediate time off or reduced duties to process events.
Nominate a trained lead. Where possible, ensure there is a designated staff member trained to lead the response after a patient or staff suicide.
Include everyone involved in care. Remember to consider non-clinical staff - receptionists, administrators, and support staff may also be affected.
Inform team members with care and compassion. Ensure all staff who had contact with the patient are updated respectfully.
Offer immediate and ongoing support. Don’t let support stop after the initial conversation. Diarise check-ins to make sure support continues.
Signpost to Practitioner Health If staff require mental health treatment, encourage them to access confidential support via Practitioner Health.

Explore additional support services

Supporting staff during inquests and investigations

Be present

Accompany staff to the coroner’s inquest if they are required to attend. Do not expect them to return to work the same day - this is a demanding and emotionally exhausting experience.

Allow preparation time

Give staff protected time to prepare any required statements or documents. Offer emotional and practical support throughout.

Be flexible

Some staff may benefit from time away, reduced hours, or changes to workload.

Foster a supportive culture

Make it safe and normal to talk about distress and grief within your team.

Acknowledge the impact

Recognise that even those not directly involved may feel affected.

Resources and training

View resources and training

Derby & Derbyshire Emotional Health and Wellbeing Toolkit

A helpful guide covering postvention processes and support for bereaved families.

View the toolkit

PABBS Suicide Postvention Training

Evidence-based training for healthcare professionals following a patient suicide.

Visit the Suicide Bereavement UK website

We Need to Talk About Suicide - eLearning

Developed with Public Health England, this course helps healthcare professionals and volunteers recognise suicide risk, support patients and families, and access additional resources.

Access training

Inquests and investigations

Inquests and internal reviews can feel daunting. Knowing what to expect helps.

Being told that a patient you cared for has died can be understandably distressing and most clinicians will need to take some time to process and reflect. Being told that the death is subject to a Coroner’s Inquiry and/or Inquest can be incredibly worrying with many experiencing anxiety, guilt and uncertainty about what will happen next. Many practitioners tell us that is one of the most stressful experiences of their career.

This guide aims to explain in broad terms what an Inquest is, what you need to do and where to obtain advice and support.

What is an Inquest?

An Inquest is an investigation led by a Coroner to establish who the deceased was, when, where and how they died.

It is not an adversarial process and is about fact finding. It is not a process which looks to apportion blame or liability and it is not a trial.

Inquests are usually required when the death is sudden, unexpected or happens in certain circumstances, such as whilst undergoing medical treatment, surgery or in detention.

Why does it feel so stressful?

Many clinicians understandably feel worried about several aspects of the process:

Being blamed for the death
How to cope when being questioned
Impact on reputation, career or licence to practise
What others will think
Media attention

These feelings are common and normal. Even the most experienced clinicians who have been through the process before can find it challenging. Although it may not always feel like it, remember that an Inquest is about understanding what happened, not about apportioning blame or fault.

What should you do if you are contacted by the Coroner’s office?

If you are contacted by the Coroner’s office to ask to provide a statement or even attend an Inquest, remember not to panic. Help and support is available.

Contact your medical defence organisation or trade union (RCN if you are a nurse) for support. They are experts in helping clinicians prepare statements and navigate the process.

Speak to your employer or Trust legal team. They can advise on local processes, liaise with the Coroner and provide legal representation if needed.

Prepare your statement carefully and make sure you have the medical records available when you do. Remember to stick to the facts, based on the records and don’t speculate. Make sure a professional reviews your statement before you finalise and submit it to the Coroner.

Remember to look after yourself. These processes can make you feel quite isolated. Ensure that you talk to someone that you can trust. Many of the defence organisations and trade unions have counselling services for clinicians who are finding the process stressful. Your employer may also provide such services through an employee assistance programme - it is worth checking.

Hopefully this will not be the case but the process can take its toll on people. If you are really struggling with your mental health then consider speaking to your GP or accessing Practitioner Health.

Writing a statement

See here for guidance on writing a statement

Attending an Inquest

If you are asked to attend and give evidence in person, make sure you are free and able to attend the date.

Preparation is really important so you should make sure you are up to speed with the process, and the order of the Inquest, and when you should attend. If you have a legal team, they will often suggest you meet with them beforehand to prepare. If you are unsure whether a meeting is necessary, ask them or your defence organisation.

If anything about an Inquest is unclear, make sure you seek advice so you can demystify it.

Remember, Inquests are public forums so anyone can attend one - including you. Many people find it helpful to attend an unrelated Inquest beforehand so they can see what happens, and this can really help allay some of the worry.

At an Inquest, again it is important to stick to the facts and the records,. The Coroner, family, other parties or lawyers may ask you questions. Stay calm, answer honestly and stick to what you know (much like you were trained to for oral examinations at medical school or for post-graduate training!).

As Inquests are public, there may be media presence, but your defence organisation or trade union can guide you on how best to manage this.

After an Inquest

The process can be really draining so is it is important to schedule some downtime afterwards. Don’t expect to be able to go straight back into clinic once it is over.

You might find it helpful to chat through it with your advisor or someone you trust afterwards.

Looking after yourself

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