Suicide loss is painful and often accompanied by a range of complex emotions. You, your friends, and family can get support to help you deal with the loss if you are a survivor of a suicide loss.
How To Take Care of Yourself
It might be difficult to help someone who lost a loved one to suicide. There are various ways to assist someone who is struggling.
Find a support group↗: You don’t need to deal with your loss on your alone. Support organizations are available for people who have lost a loved one to suicide.
Follow your gut instinct: Do not feel compelled to speak immediately. Follow your gut instinct. Speaking can give your loved ones the chance to offer you suitable assistance if you decide to talk about your loss.
Write: To express your emotions in writing or to write a letter to a loved one who has passed away may be therapeutic. You may be able to say some things here that you were unable to speak before their passing.
Seek help: Don’t be afraid to ask for help from your friends or to explore for options in your neighborhood like therapists, coworkers, or family.
How to Help
It might be difficult to help someone who lost a loved one to suicide. There are various ways to assist someone who is struggling.
Accept their emotions: After a loved one dies by suicide, loss survivors must deal with complicated emotions like dread, sadness, shame, and rage. Accept their feelings, be kind and patient, and offer support while demonstrating empathy and lacking in judgment.
Be empathetic: Holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries may trigger memories and emotions for the lost loved one, highlighting their absence. During these moments, be aware of loss survivors and show compassion.
Don’t shy away from discussing the suicide victim: When speaking with survivors, mention the deceased person’s name. This might make it simpler to talk about a subject that is frequently stigmatized and demonstrates that you haven’t forgotten about this significant person.
Inquire about the loss survivor: Suicidal thoughts are also more likely to occur in people who have lost a loved one to suicide. If you notice any warning signals↗, ask the person if they are experiencing suicidal thoughts and get them help.
