Suicide Awareness & Coping With Loss
September is National Suicide Prevention Month
Suicide can be a difficult topic to talk about due to stigma and personal feelings of discomfort talking about suicide. Mental Health experts advise it is important to learn about warning signs and resources that are available for help.
If you think someone might be considering suicide, take these 5 steps: Ask. Be There. Help Keep Them Safe. Help Them Connect. Follow Up. Learn more at: https://go.nih.gov/ZpZ0h0J #shareNIMH
Losing a Loved One to Suicide
Losing someone you care about to suicide is a devastating experience.
The Waves of Emotions
Many different emotions may be felt - including shock, disbelief, confusion, sadness, loss, guilt, anger or helplessness among other feelings.
Grief is not linear and emotions can appear unpredictably. Multiple emotions may be felt at once - profound sadness can exist alongside anger. In addition to processing loss, there may be an added layer of discomfort for some friends and family to talk about suicide due to stigma which can make the grieving process even more challenging. There can be fear of judgements and misunderstandings about suicide which can lead to a reluctance to share feelings and further isolation.
Needing to Understand Why
This type of loss can come with many unanswered questions. Family and friends can be troubled by the need to understand why the person chose to end their life. This can lead to feelings of guilt and profound helplessness.
Many times there may never be a clear answer to the question of “why did this happen?”. This level of uncertainty and lack of closure can be difficult. Over time and with support, acknowledging that the reason behind your loved one’s suicide may never be completely understood. Practicing this form of acceptance allows the release of a false sense of control and feelings of guilt, slowly allowing space for compassion for all those involved, including yourself.
For Spanish - The Suicide * Crisis Lifeline has a Spanish language phone line at 1-888-628-9454 (toll-free)
Support Groups
There are people who are willing to listen - without judgement, criticism or expectations of how you should be feeling. Remember, that you are not alone in your feelings. Support and bereavement groups can provide a safe environment to share the pain and grief experienced by those who have lost someone to suicide.
To find a support group visit https://afsp.org/find-a-support-group/
The Alliance of Hope is a non-profit organization whose mission is to support those whose lives have been affected by suicide. Their community forum functions as a support group and is available at all times https://allianceofhope.org/
