People bereaved by suicide face up to eight times the risk of dying by suicide themselves, placing them among the most vulnerable groups within suicide prevention efforts. While professional psychological support is often necessary and valued, research consistently demonstrates that it is insufficient on its own. Informed by a systematic review and ongoing community consultation, this presentation explores an innovative community-based postvention initiative designed to address this gap: the Suicide Bereavement Cafe.
The Suicide Bereavement Cafe is a non-clinical, peer-informed space where individuals grieving a suicide loss, whether recent or historical, can gather in a warm, welcoming environment. The cafe evolved from two grassroots initiatives, a Loneliness Cafe and a Grief Cafe, both operating within a social prescribing framework that prioritises community connection and informal support. From inception, the cafe has been co-designed with people who have lived experience of suicide bereavement, ensuring that its structure, facilitation, and tone are gentle, inclusive, and trauma-aware.
Developed and delivered in Perth, Western Australia, the initiative is led by ARBOR in consultation with StandBy, CYPRESS, and Anglicare WA. These partnerships provide wraparound care and clear pathways into additional clinical, counselling, and peer support services when required. Grounded in the belief that healing occurs in community, the cafe aims to reduce social isolation, normalise grief, and create opportunities for connection, meaning-making, and mutual support.
Participant feedback highlights a range of positive outcomes, including reduced loneliness, emotional relief, increased validation, and renewed confidence to re-engage with community life following periods of withdrawal. For some participants, the cafe represents a first step back into connection; for others, it provides a bridge into ongoing support or opportunities to contribute.
This presentation will share insights into the development, implementation, and evaluation of the Suicide Bereavement Cafe, including ethical considerations, sustainability challenges, and key learnings from embedding lived experience at every stage. In a field often dominated by clinical approaches, this work offers a compassionate, creative, and connected model of postvention, demonstrating the value of community-based responses in strengthening individual and collective resilience.