Having knowledge of what to expect in the following weeks and months after the shock.
Afterwards it would have helped to have had someone to talk to who knows the procedure; we didn’t know what we wanted straight away. However a death by suicide is different to a natural death. We didn’t know about; interim death certificates, the various reports required, various meetings, police statements, Inquests, etc.
The mental health team phoned said they would try to get support, we were later informed there was no support in the area, particularly for death by suicide. We again had to work out everything ourselves, through support from family and friends, by research and asking questions.
We later accessed some counselling via St Richards Hospice (which was great) but it took ages for it to be available. Something sooner would have been a great help.
Not having to comb through the reports and make corrections would have helped.
Not having to alter basic information that should be consistent in all reports, e.g. where he did his degree, what he studied etc.
In fact, not having to go through the reports at all would have been great. Similarly, not having to go to meetings where it was all gone through again and again would have helped.
We hope this website will provide information and practical encouragement for people with mental health issues and for those affected by suicide.