Offering hope, comfort and support for survivors of suicide loss.
Despite being such a strong voice in support of those who have lost a loved one to suicide, I found myself silenced in disbelief recently when someone I am very close to made an insulting comment on the topic. To this, day, I am mentally kicking myself for not speaking up, but I was so appalled and confused, I didn’t know what to do in the moment.
It was late at night, with several people sitting around gabbing. I believe the topic shifted to ...
In the wake of losing a loved one to suicide, it’s common to pour over every detail of their final days, including last conversations. Filled with guilt, survivors may wonder if things that were said – or maybe not said – could have made a difference. I think that because suicide is so shocking and lacks closure, we reach for something – or someone – to blame.
I remember in the weeks leading up to my dad’s death, I could tell he wasn’t feeling ...
To be honest, I hadn’t planned on doing anything of significance to mark the four-year anniversary of my dad’s suicide this week. I tend to think it’s better to focus on happier occasions, like his birthday or the holidays we enjoyed together. The craziness of chasing around my 10-month-old, coupled with picking up the house and getting ready for the day certainly served as helpful distractions. However, as the date loomed, I received a couple of ...
August marks four years since my dad took his life. Some days, it feels as fresh and raw as when I first learned of his death. On others, it seems like a lifetime ago. I still shake my head in disbelief when I think about my dad – my dad – making the decision to die this way. I remember sitting in my first few LOSS meetings listening to moderators who were five or ten years out from their loved one’s passing thinking, “you have no idea how I feel ...
This week, I heard the troubling news that someone I know has become newly bereaved to a loss by suicide. My heart aches to hear this and I’m immediately taken back to those early moments in the wake of losing my dad. I wanted to share some of the most helpful things I learned during those initial days.
My family and I weren’t alone. We were immediately surrounded with support, encouragement and offers to help – from those we knew and even ...
