Survivors of Suicide Loss

Suicide has many victims — family members, friends, colleagues, classmates and teammates can all be deeply affected when someone close to them takes their own life. A “survivor of suicide” or someone who is “bereaved by suicide” refers to someone who lost a friend or loved one to suicide.

The grief process following a death by suicide is more complicated than with other types of loss. In addition to the grief experienced after a “normal” death, there are often overwhelming feelings of guilt, confusion, anger and fear — along with searching for a “why?”

Everyone has their own way and their own speed to process grief, but there are some feelings and experiences that are common for those dealing with a loss due to suicide. Attending a support group, engaging in self-care activities (such as going for walks, listening to music or playing with a pet), focusing on eating and rest and making sure their own emotional needs are being addressed can all be very helpful. But the most important thing is for survivors to have at least one person that they feel they can talk to — and that will really listen to them.

Resources 

• Healing After a Suicide Loss in Your Life
• Helpline Center Survivor Services
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
• Suicide Awareness Voices of Education
• Dougy Center
• Survivors Joining for Hope Financial and Grief Support Program