Offering hope, comfort and support for survivors of suicide loss.
Six months prior to losing my dad to suicide, I graduated with my Master's in Clinical Psychology. I entered the field working in community mental health where I received my first dose of reality when it comes to the stigma of mental illness. Working alongside individuals with chronic illnesses such as Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder One (yes, there are different kinds), and Major Depressive Disorder showed me firsthand how our society treats ...
In the wake of losing our dads to suicide in 2011, we met at a local support group for newly bereaved young adults. In the years since, we’ve bonded over our grief and committed to helping others navigate their journeys as survivors. Saturday, November 19, 2016 marks International Survivors of Suicide Day and we wanted to share how our experience as survivors over the past few years has reframed how we perceive and acknowledge the day.
Survivor ...
Dealing with guilt after suicide is a topic I often write about on our blog. It is described as the "crippling" emotion; an emotion that leaves a person feeling a sense of remorse. On my own grief journey, I found guilt to be the most difficult emotion to work through. Hence why I write about this topic so frequently. I have not only questioned my own role in my dad's suicide, but also how much control I actually had in preventing this tragic ...
In the four plus years since losing my dad to suicide, I have had a number of people ask me, "Did you see the signs?" For a long time I struggled with my response. The angry person in me wanted to say, "If I did do you think we would be having this conversation?" The guilty person in me wanted to say, "Yes, I did. I should have been able to stop him." The bitter person in me wanted to say, "In what world is that question appropriate?" As a ...
I can’t believe I’m writing this, but today marks the five-year milestone of my dad’s death by suicide and my position as a “survivor.” Today, I’m reflecting on how my life has evolved in that time.
I’m thankful for the resources and survivor friends who have been there for me. Early on, I was able to find my footing and begin healing with the help of Catholic Charities’ Loving Outreach to Survivors of Suicide support groups. I attended my ...
