Articles

A loved one's suicide can be emotionally devastating. Use healthy coping strategies — such as seeking support — to begin the journey to healing and acceptance. By Mayo Clinic Staff When a loved one dies by suicide, overwhelming emotions can leave you reeling. Your...

Grief is a universal experience all human beings encounter. Though death inevitably touches our lives, research shows that many people grieve in varying and different ways. From the textures of emotions, to length of time in mourning, to even the kinds of rituals and...

The recent, untimely deaths of Kate Spade, reportedly from depression-related suicide, and of Anthony Bourdain, also from apparent suicide, came as a surprise to many. How could a fashion designer and businesswoman known for her whimsical creations and a chef, author...

Tips for grieving adults, children and schools Death by suicide is always a tragic event. It can trigger a host of complicated and confusing emotions. Whether you are coping with the loss of a loved one, or are helping a child or...

By Susan Beaton MAPS, beyondblue Suicide Prevention Advisor, Dr Peter Forster MAPS, University of Worcester and Dr Myfanwy Maple MAASW, University of New England

Suicide is not a sin and is no longer a crime, so we should stop saying that people ‘commit’ suicide. We now live in a time when we seek to understand people who experience suicidal ideation, behaviours and attempts, and to treat them with compassion rather than condemn them. Part of this is to use appropriate, non-stigmatising terminology when referring to suicide.

Postvention is ultimately about hope and about re-establishing hope in a person, a community or workplace that has been devastated by a suicide

Those who have been bereaved by suicide are often haunted by two questions:

– Why did they do it?
– Could I have done something to prevent it?

Often, immediately following a suicide death, friends rally around and show support. But over time they may appear to be less concerned and their contact may become less frequent. Remember the following: Generally, friends are well meaning and they want to support and...

Survivors often wonder how bereavement after suicide compares to bereavement after other kinds of death. Special themes of suicide bereavement manifest themselves in three broad areas of grief response. First, numerous studies have found that survivors seem to...

When a loved one suicides, it's like they left us standing alone in a room with a very large elephant. We've never owned an elephant before. We have no use for it, nor do we want it. But here we are...stuck in a room with this elephant. We have no idea what to do with...

Many people feel their loved one’s life has been wasted. But: A person’s value does not die with them. Their influences and memories remain. Remember the times you had together. Get out the photos to remind you. Sometimes the memories become hidden by the pain you...