Bereaved by Suicide support
Often people who have lost someone through suicide are comforted most by others who have undergone the same experience.
Bereaved by Suicide groups meet at Chatswood in Sydney and the Gold Coast, Queensland.
You are not alone. It has happened to others.
After a loss by death, we go through several stages called grief responses. Sometimes these stages unfold naturally and other times we get stuck in one stage or another.
Following a death by suicide, many grief responses are significantly intensified. They may be so painful that we are unable to move on through the normal stages of grief without the assistance of other survivors and trained professionals.
- Feelings you may experience
- How you can help someone else
- About the groups
- Some reflections of participants
- Contact details
Feelings you may experience
Some feelings you may be struggling with if you are bereaved by suicide are:
- emptiness
- guilt
- anger
- despair
- isolation
- shame
- depression
- abandonment
- helplessness
- disorientation
- stigma
- disbelief
Often children and young people will look as if they are managing fine on the outside. Reaching out is tough. You will need to help yourself before you can make a difference to others.
How you can help someone else
If you know someone who has lost a loved one to suicide, you can help by:
- listening
- accepting their rage, guilt, depression, self-centredness and blame-placing without judging them
- letting them cry
- not asking "why" or if there was anything that could have been be done.
- encouraging them to talk about the death with any children - for they too need help.
- mentioning the loved one by name.
- including them in your normal activities.
- realising that working through grief can take years and that the hurt is never forgotten.
- urging them to wait before making any major changes such as moving, giving away possessions or quitting a job.
- suggesting a Bereaved by Suicide Group.
About the groups
Bereaved by Suicide Support Groups are self-help support groups for those who have lost a relative or friend through suicide. This includes groups for children and teenagers (in Sydney) who have lost a parent, friend or relative.
If you would like the support and understanding of others who have experienced a similar loss, join us.
We are here to help people survive this experience and move on to fulfilling lives once again.
The groups, together with the facilitators, offer a safe environment to discuss issues that only relate to persons bereaved by suicide.
When a person dies, family and friends begin a period of grief. The loss of a loved one through suicide is a swift and devastating experience for the survivor because there is no preparation time for acceptance of death. Guilt feelings are intensified by the "if only" and the frustrations sharply felt due to the unanswered question - "WHY?"
Often people who have lost someone through suicide are comforted most by others who have undergone the same experience.
Some reflections of participants:
- I am not alone in this pain. (Bill, 23)
- I am normal and I'm able to cope through the pain. (Sally, 19)
- I never believed this group could influence me in such a powerful and positive way.
- Thank God for the Bereaved by Suicide Group, it saved my life. (John, 56)
- It was tough going, but it opened me to live again. (Margaret, 29)
- The group helped me have faith in relationships. I don't withdraw from my kids anymore. I'm free of guilt, the shame and living beyond the pain. (Jules, 36)
Contact details
Gold Coast Bereaved by Suicide Support Group
The Salvation Army Gold Coast
157 Wardoo Street SOUTHPORT QLD 4215
Ph. (07) 5531 3471
This group meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month at 7.00pm.
Sydney Suicide Support Group
Contact The Salvation Army Chatswood on Ph. (02) 9419 8695.
This group meets for one session a week, for eight weeks or two evenings and a weekend.