Survivors of Suicide

SOS offers the following suggestions for survivors of a loss by suicide:

1. Seek support from family members, friends, clergy, support groups, and perhaps a mental health professional. These interactions will provide new insights and perspectives, and be very beneficial as we live beyond the loss.

2. Maintain contact with friends through lunches and other daily contacts. This is not the time to be alone. Be intentional and take the initiative in these contacts. These interactions can be of immense help to you.

3. Don’t be discouraged or disheartened by what appear to be thoughtless words or actions by some of those around you. Often people want to help but don’t know what to say or do. Help them to feel more comfortable.

4. Don’t dwell on the final words or events in the life of your loved one. The death was a tragic end of your life together, but it does not represent the substance of the person or of your life with them.

5. Recognize that your experience can help others, that we can benefit one another in our search for some restoration by sharing our experiences, both good and bad. Helping in the healing of another survivor can have an important positive effect on you.

6. Know that you are not alone, that someone takes their life every 11 minutes in the USA, and many others are going through a situation similar to yours at this moment. Allow yourself to have partners in this journey of surviving the loss of a loved one.