Grieving a Death by Suicide

Posted on December 28, 2019 by Hector Beltran under Grieving
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Oftentimes, due to the stigma of suicide, many families who lost a family member to death by suicide don’t get the support they need to cope. They feel too ashamed or heartbroken to reach out to people in their community. Likewise, others may be too afraid to bring up the death to them.

Since this is unfortunately true, it’s up to funeral directors to provide resources to these families during their time of grieving. We have compiled some helpful resources for you to share with your families.

  • Support After Suicide

    • This helpful resource guide has various sections about coping with death by suicide. Some include returning to work, communicating with children, and guidelines for schools.
  • Alliance of Hope

    • The Alliance of Hope is for suicide loss survivors. This organization reminds people that they are not alone in their loss. Their website includes an online forum where survivors can connect, resources for those who just lost someone to suicide, and a blog with helpful information about suicide loss.
  • Friends for Survival 

    • This organization is unique because all of its staff and volunteers have been directly impacted by suicide. They have several publications, a monthly newsletter, and a suicide loss helpline — all resources to help your families.
  • Preventing Suicide: How to Start a Suicide Support Group 

    • If you or the families you serve are interested in starting a suicide support group, this is a great resource. In this guide you will find the importance of support groups, how to get started, potential drawbacks, and more.
  • Suicide: Finding Hope 

    • Sometimes, after a person loses a loved one to suicide, they may consider taking their own life. This resource helps these individuals understand their feelings and learn strategies to cope with them.

If you or someone you know is showing warning signs of suicide or needs additional resources, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

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