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Suicide fatality review boards (or committees) are groups of local stakeholders and expert individuals that gather after a suicide death to review factors surrounding the death. After cases are reviewed, stakeholders discuss recommendations for local implementation to potentially prevent similar suicide cases in the community. Refer to the Ohio Department of Health’s guidance on Suicide Fatality Review on their webpage HERE.
In September 2021, Ohio legislation passed that offers guidelines for communities when implementing a suicide fatality review board. Since the passing of this legislation, over 30 Ohio counties are now operating suicide fatality review committees in their communities. However, SFR as a prevention initiative is still fairly new, and many stakeholders across the state have expressed the desire to receive practical advice and technical support when establishing their committees.
The Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation (OSPF), in collaboration with the Ohio Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services (OhioMHAS), and the Ohio Department of Health, hosted the first-ever Ohio Suicide Fatality Review Best Practices Summit on November 12, 2024. This day-long learning summit invited suicide fatality review stakeholders from around Ohio (local health departments, mental health boards, coroners, death investigators, pathologists, suicide prevention coalitions, etc.) to learn about best practices from local and national fatality review experts in the field. Please see below for a list of helpful resources and recordings of the individual sessions from the Summit.
This form is to be used by the Suicide Fatality Review (SFR) committee when a death by suicide has occurred. These interviews are intended to be done with the next of kin, family, close friends, and other close relationships to the deceased.
This form is to be used by the Suicide Fatality Review (SFR) committee when a death by suicide has occurred to collect recommended data points.