In honor of National Suicide Prevention Day (Sept. 10) and week (Sept. 8-14), we wanted to share some of the helpful articles and resources we’ve identified through the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). This is a tough week for survivors because we have experienced the terrible tragedy of losing a loved one to suicide. Many of us feel if there was ANYTHING we could have done to prevent our friend or family member from taking ...
How to Talk to Suicide Survivors
Suicide is and will always be a shocking notion. Because of this, people don’t always know what they should or shouldn’t say to someone in the wake of their loss, or if they should say something at all. As a survivor, I can say that it’s always better to say something to the bereaved versus avoiding the subject. It shows you care. Following are a few of the tips I would offer to someone who wants to reach out to a suicide survivor with words of ...
What Does it Mean to be a Survivor of Suicide?
Throughout my life, I’ve been defined as a daughter, a sister, a wife, a friend - and today, a survivor of suicide. The latter is one descriptor I never even knew existed, let alone thought I’d take on until two years ago. In the wee hours following my father’s death in August 2011, unable to sleep, I took to my computer, looking for support, for answers. While the city and world around me was resting quietly, I was grasping for anything that ...