When you’re ready, you may like to post a memorial on your social media accounts. You could create a memorial page or group to share stories and receive and provide support. It’s a good idea to include helplines and encourage people to seek help if they need to – this could be someone they trust, or a support service. If you choose to share memories or posts online, Chatsafe guidelines by Orygen can help you do this safely.   

Be sure to monitor comments for harmful and unsafe content. You may want to link to the Chatsafe guidelines to remind people how to communicate safely and respectfully on the platform.   

Keeping others safe if you decide to post:

• Think carefully about how you want to share this news. As a guideline, keep the mana/dignity of the person who’s passed intact. It's about looking after their story and their privacy. Don't include information they may not want others to know.  
• Whānau members and friends might see your post; be aware others may be experiencing a range of intense feelings. Be sensitive to this and careful with the language you use.  
• Only post information you know to be true and encourage others to do the same.  
• Avoid:  
  • Speculating about the person's thoughts or feelings leading up to the suicide, or why they took their life.  
  • Posting or sharing information that’s inaccurate, or that you’re unsure of. 
• It's okay to say they have died by suicide. If the cause of death is not yet known or you don't want to use the word suicide, you can call it a ‘sudden death’.   
• Do not share information on the method or location (how and where they died), as this can negatively affect other vulnerable people.
• Consider removing the ability to leave comments and ask people to send a direct message (DM), email their condolences or link to the funeral director’s remembrance page. 
• Provide information on how to access helplines and support services. 
• If others are planning to post on their own pages, gently remind them that it’s about respecting and honouring the person who died. Encourage them to avoid speculation or discussions about the cause of death.  
• The post needs to be closely monitored to ensure there is no breach of s.71 of the Coroner's Act 2006. It might be helpful to assign someone to oversee comments. Comments that are unsafe or could cause additional distress should be removed, hidden or blocked.