Hofstra Panel Examines the Hidden Toll of Suicide Loss on Mental Health Professionals

A panel at Hofstra University on May 4, 2026 tackled one of the most difficult questions in mental health care: how do professionals cope after a client dies by suicide?

The discussion, part of the Brett Lake Speaker Series in Mental Health, brought together leaders from counseling, crisis response, education, and community organizations. The series is sponsored by the Brett Lake Fund, established by Dr. Diana Lake in memory of her son.

Panelists focused on "postvention," the systems and strategies that follow a suicide, and the need for institutions to prepare before a crisis occurs.

"When a suicide occurs, the impact ripples far beyond the loss," said Andrea Nerlich, professor of counseling and mental health professions at Hofstra. "It touches professional identity, ethical responsibility, organizational culture, and the emotional well-being of entire communities."

Antoinette DeGruccio, a licensed clinical social worker at Warrior Ranch Foundation, said clinicians often internalize the loss. "It's very common for clinicians to ask, 'What did I miss?'" DeGruccio said. "That reflection can be important, but we also need to make sure we don't get stuck in guilt and blame."

Anne Deubel, director of crisis services at Response Crisis Center, said support must be individualized. "When we sign up for this work, we have to understand what that can mean," she said. "Support has to be responsive to what each person is experiencing in that moment."

Panelists also noted the emotional complexity of grief in professional settings, where confidentiality limits how clinicians can process loss with family or friends.

Adrienne LoPresti, executive director at YES Community Counseling Center, said grief does not follow a straight line. "It's not that we're not OK and then we're OK. We're impacted in different ways, and that continues to be part of our lives."