Offering hope, comfort and support for survivors of suicide loss.
With most other causes of death, it seems survivors have at least one source to “blame” for taking away a loved one, which can provide a sense of comfort and closure we humans so desperately need. Whether it’s blaming a life-threatening disease, an at-fault party in an accident, or a violent criminal, anger and sadness can be directed their way, allowing those left behind to focus on grieving the innocence of the one lost. Suicide isn’t so black ...
I feel I’ve reached quite a milestone in my grief journey, which is slightly bittersweet. Less than two weeks ago, I passed the fifth birthday following my dad’s death by suicide. He would have turned 69 this year. It's amazing to see how my emotions and reaction to this date have changed over time… Thanks to Facebook’s “See Your Memories” prompting, I scrolled through the posts I issued in his honor through the years.
In 2012, just eight ...
Through my own grief journey I have come to find that regret lives in the past, hope lives in the future. I think this was a notion that I believed even before losing my dad to suicide. However, I think in the aftermath of a loss by suicide, we almost have to go back before we can move forward.
I believe that we can find answers when we go back. They might not be THE answer, but they are answers that help us make sense of something that ...
Twice in two days, the brutal reality of my dad’s suicide presented itself when I had to share about my family’s health history with doctors. It reminded me that even years after a loved one dies, their method of death haunts those left behind.
When visiting with a new general practitioner, she asked about my mom’s age and the state of her health. I immediately began to dread the question that would follow, “And, how about your father?” I ...
Since my dad died by suicide four years ago, I’ve continued to debate how much of a “choice” he really had at the time. On the surface, it seems simple. He chose to take his life and stop struggling with depression and anxiety. He chose not to stay and spend more time with his family and work. He chose the time, place and method to end his life. However, the more I learn about suicide and the crippling effects of mental illness on a person, the ...
