The Retrospective Suicide Analysis (RSA) is a statewide project funded by the Oregon Health Authority. The RSA process involves speaking with with next of kin and other people close to a young person (24 and under) who died to better understand their life. The heart of our work is to provide suicide loss survivors with an opportunity to tell the story of their loved one in an effort to promote healing and better understand the many factors that contribute to profound loss. Our goal is to listen to your perspective, uncover contributing factors, address gaps in supportive systems, and inform future prevention efforts.
Compassionate Understanding
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Systemic Change
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Informed Prevention
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Compassionate Understanding 〰️ Systemic Change 〰️ Informed Prevention 〰️
Compassionate Understanding: Provides families and friends with a voice and promotes healing.
Systemic Change: Identifies gaps in prevention and across different systems that impact people’s lives.
Informed Prevention: Stories and perspectives influence policy and programming locally and across Oregon.
An RSA begins 4-6 months after a death. This allows for immediate postvention support and services to take place. In Oregon, that may include support from county mental health, public health, community organizations, Suicide Rapid Response (SRR) and other local resources.
Caring and intentional outreach at 4-6 months provides connection and access to resources. People are invited to participate in the RSA process and can also get connected to supportive resources to promote their grief and healing journey.
CONTACT US and REQUEST A CONVERSATION
Meet the team:
Nick Jensen (he/him), QMHA | Project Manager | Matchstick Consulting
nick@matchstickpdx.com, 971-460-8330
Maryanne Mueller (she/her), MS | Research Associate | Optimal Healing Institute
Liz Thorne (she/her), MPH | Director | Matchstick Consulting
We have been trained and certified by the National Association of Retrospective Fatality Analysts. For more information, click HERE.
Our Values:
Active Listening: We want to hear you tell the story of your loved one, from your unique perspective and experience. This is a voluntary process and we are grateful for your participation.
Non-judgment: We are curious about people’s lives, how they lived and what they experienced. We are here to uphold the inherent dignity and worth of all people in a caring and compassionate manner.
Valuing Relationships: We are here to provide families and friends with a voice for change and to promote continued healing.
Connection and Access: We offer the opportunity to tell your story in a non-therapeutic setting. If you need access to other resources for grief, healing and well-being, we will work with you to make that available for you and your family.
Integrity: What you share and we hear through your storytelling will be analyzed, de-identified and shared as recommendations to inform, adapt or reinforce local and statewide prevention policies and programs.