Suicide Grief
The suicide of a loved one can be emotionally devastating . Use healthy coping strategies—such as seeking support—to start a journey of healing and acceptance.
By Mayo Clinic staff
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Emotions can overwhelm you when a loved one commits suicide. Your grief can be heartbreaking. At the same time, you may be engulfed in guilt – wondering if there is anything you can do to prevent the death of a loved one.
As you face your life after your loved one committing suicide, remember that you don’t have to go through it alone.
Be prepared for strong emotions
A loved one’s Suicide can trigger strong emotions. E.g:
- Shock. Doubt and emotional numbness may begin. You may think that the suicide of a loved one cannot be real.
- quilt feeling of rejection.
You may be wondering why your relationship isn’t enough to keep your loved one from dying and committing suicide.
- by own way of grief.
- for Painful reminder to be prepared. Anniversaries, holidays, and other special occasions can be distressing reminders of a loved one’s suicide. Don’t blame yourself for sadness or grief. Instead, consider changing or suspending family traditions that are too painful to continue.
- don’t want in a hurry. Losing someone to suicide is a huge blow and has to be rehabilitated at your own pace. Don’t be caught up by anyone’s expectations that it’s been “long enough”.
- consider Set up a support group for families affected by suicide. Sharing your story with others who are going through the same type of grief may help you find a sense of purpose or strength. However, if you find that participating in these groups makes you meditate on the death of a loved one, seek out other methods of support.
-
- Linde K et al. Grief interventions for suicidal bereavements: a systematic review. PLOS one. 2017; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0179496.
- Schreiber JK, et al . Perceptual experiences of children bereaved by parental suicide. Omega – Dead and Dying Magazine. 2017; doi: 10.1177/0030222815612297.
- Hall-Flavin DK (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic. March 27, 2020.
anger.
Guilt.
You may be replaying “what if” and “what if” scenarios in your mind, blaming yourself for the death of a loved one. Desperate . You may be troubled by sadness, loneliness or helplessness. You may break down physically and even contemplate suicide.
Puzzled. Many people try to make some sense from death, or try to understand why a loved one took his or her life. However, you may always have some unanswered questions.
you May continue to experience intense reactions – including nightmares, flashbacks, difficulty concentrating, social withdrawal and loss of interest in daily activities – especially if you witness or discover the suicide in the weeks and months after a loved one’s suicide .
Dealing with stigma
Many people discuss suicide We’ve encountered trouble and may not be able to reach you. This can leave you feeling isolated or abandoned if the support you expect is not there.
In addition, some religions limit the ceremonies that those who have received support can participate in. suicide, which can also make you feel lonely. You may also feel deprived of some of the usual tools you used to rely on to help you cope.
Adopt healthy coping strategies
Consequences of a loved one’s suicide Might be exhausting. As you go through your grief, take care to protect your happiness.
keep in touch.
Connect with loved ones, friends and spiritual leaders for comfort, understanding and healing. Be around people who are willing to listen when you need to speak, and who are willing to provide someone to lean on when you’d rather keep silent.
Do what suits you, not necessarily someone else. There is no single “right” way to grieve. If you find it too painful to go to a loved one’s cemetery or share the details of a loved one’s death, wait until you are ready.
Expect setbacks. Some days will be better than others, even years after suicide – that’s okay. Healing usually doesn’t happen in a straight line.
Know when to seek professional help
If you are experiencing intense or unrelenting pain or physical problems, ask your doctor or mental health provider Get help. It’s especially important to seek professional help if you think you may be suffering from depression or recurring suicidal thoughts. Unresolved grief can turn into complex grief, painful emotions so persistent and severe that it is difficult for you to get your life back.
If you think you may harm yourself or attempt suicide, seek help right away. In the US, dial or text 988 to dial 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or use Lifeline Chat. Veterans or service members can dial 988, then press “1” or text 838355, or chat online. Suicide & Crisis Lifeline has a Spanish telephone line at 1-888-628-9454 (toll free).
Depending on the situation, you may benefit from individual or family therapy—either to get you through the worst of the crisis or to help you adjust to life after suicide. In some cases, short-term medication can also help.
Facing the future with a peaceful mind
In the relatives After suicide, you may feel that you cannot move on with your life, or that you will never enjoy life again.
In fact, you’ve probably always wondered why it happened – even years later reminders can trigger painful feelings. Eventually, however, the raw intensity of your grief wears off.
Understanding the complex legacy of suicide and how to deal with apparent grief can help you heal while still honoring your loved one’s memory.
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August. May 5, 2022
Ross V, et al. Exploring the cause of suicide And the support needs of the bereaved: a qualitative study. Omega – Journal of Death and Dying. 2019; doi: 10.11770030222819825775. Mitchell AM, et al. Suicide of significant other PTSD symptoms in bereaved survivors. Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association. 2017; doi: 10.1177/1078390316673716.
Sheehan L, et al al. Behind closed doors: The shame of suicide loss survivors. Omega – Journal of Death and Dying. 2018; doi: 10.1177/0030222816674215. Perng A, et al. Recognition and Treatment The complex grief of the elderly. Journal of Nurse Practitioners. 2018; doi:10.1016/j.nurpra.2017.12.001. Andriessen K, et al . Effectiveness of interventions for people bereaved by suicide: a systematic review of controlled studies of grief, psychosocial, and suicide-related outcomes. BMC Psychiatry. 2019; doi:10.1186/s12888-019-2020-z.
understand deeper
.
Puzzled. Many people try to make some sense from death, or try to understand why a loved one took his or her life. However, you may always have some unanswered questions.
you May continue to experience intense reactions – including nightmares, flashbacks, difficulty concentrating, social withdrawal and loss of interest in daily activities – especially if you witness or discover the suicide in the weeks and months after a loved one’s suicide .
Dealing with stigma
Many people discuss suicide We’ve encountered trouble and may not be able to reach you. This can leave you feeling isolated or abandoned if the support you expect is not there.
In addition, some religions limit the ceremonies that those who have received support can participate in. suicide, which can also make you feel lonely. You may also feel deprived of some of the usual tools you used to rely on to help you cope.
Adopt healthy coping strategies
Consequences of a loved one’s suicide Might be exhausting. As you go through your grief, take care to protect your happiness.
keep in touch.
Connect with loved ones, friends and spiritual leaders for comfort, understanding and healing. Be around people who are willing to listen when you need to speak, and who are willing to provide someone to lean on when you’d rather keep silent.
Do what suits you, not necessarily someone else. There is no single “right” way to grieve. If you find it too painful to go to a loved one’s cemetery or share the details of a loved one’s death, wait until you are ready.
Expect setbacks. Some days will be better than others, even years after suicide – that’s okay. Healing usually doesn’t happen in a straight line.
Know when to seek professional help
If you are experiencing intense or unrelenting pain or physical problems, ask your doctor or mental health provider Get help. It’s especially important to seek professional help if you think you may be suffering from depression or recurring suicidal thoughts. Unresolved grief can turn into complex grief, painful emotions so persistent and severe that it is difficult for you to get your life back.
If you think you may harm yourself or attempt suicide, seek help right away. In the US, dial or text 988 to dial 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or use Lifeline Chat. Veterans or service members can dial 988, then press “1” or text 838355, or chat online. Suicide & Crisis Lifeline has a Spanish telephone line at 1-888-628-9454 (toll free).
Depending on the situation, you may benefit from individual or family therapy—either to get you through the worst of the crisis or to help you adjust to life after suicide. In some cases, short-term medication can also help.
Facing the future with a peaceful mind
In the relatives After suicide, you may feel that you cannot move on with your life, or that you will never enjoy life again.
In fact, you’ve probably always wondered why it happened – even years later reminders can trigger painful feelings. Eventually, however, the raw intensity of your grief wears off.
Understanding the complex legacy of suicide and how to deal with apparent grief can help you heal while still honoring your loved one’s memory.
from Mayo Clinic to your inbox
Register for free to stay informed about research progress, health tips and current health topics such as COVID-19, and expertise in managing your health.
In order to provide you with the most relevant and useful information, and to understand what is beneficial, we may share your email and website usage information with us Combine with other information you have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this may include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of this information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our Notice of Privacy Practices. You may opt out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the email.
August. May 5, 2022
Ross V, et al. Exploring the cause of suicide And the support needs of the bereaved: a qualitative study. Omega – Journal of Death and Dying. 2019; doi: 10.11770030222819825775. Mitchell AM, et al. Suicide of significant other PTSD symptoms in bereaved survivors. Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association. 2017; doi: 10.1177/1078390316673716.
Sheehan L, et al al. Behind closed doors: The shame of suicide loss survivors. Omega – Journal of Death and Dying. 2018; doi: 10.1177/0030222816674215. Perng A, et al. Recognition and Treatment The complex grief of the elderly. Journal of Nurse Practitioners. 2018; doi:10.1016/j.nurpra.2017.12.001. Andriessen K, et al . Effectiveness of interventions for people bereaved by suicide: a systematic review of controlled studies of grief, psychosocial, and suicide-related outcomes. BMC Psychiatry. 2019; doi:10.1186/s12888-019-2020-z.
understand deeper
.
you May continue to experience intense reactions – including nightmares, flashbacks, difficulty concentrating, social withdrawal and loss of interest in daily activities – especially if you witness or discover the suicide in the weeks and months after a loved one’s suicide .
Dealing with stigma
Many people discuss suicide We’ve encountered trouble and may not be able to reach you. This can leave you feeling isolated or abandoned if the support you expect is not there.
In addition, some religions limit the ceremonies that those who have received support can participate in. suicide, which can also make you feel lonely. You may also feel deprived of some of the usual tools you used to rely on to help you cope.
Adopt healthy coping strategies
Consequences of a loved one’s suicide Might be exhausting. As you go through your grief, take care to protect your happiness.
Connect with loved ones, friends and spiritual leaders for comfort, understanding and healing. Be around people who are willing to listen when you need to speak, and who are willing to provide someone to lean on when you’d rather keep silent.
Do what suits you, not necessarily someone else. There is no single “right” way to grieve. If you find it too painful to go to a loved one’s cemetery or share the details of a loved one’s death, wait until you are ready.
Know when to seek professional help
If you are experiencing intense or unrelenting pain or physical problems, ask your doctor or mental health provider Get help. It’s especially important to seek professional help if you think you may be suffering from depression or recurring suicidal thoughts. Unresolved grief can turn into complex grief, painful emotions so persistent and severe that it is difficult for you to get your life back.
If you think you may harm yourself or attempt suicide, seek help right away. In the US, dial or text 988 to dial 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or use Lifeline Chat. Veterans or service members can dial 988, then press “1” or text 838355, or chat online. Suicide & Crisis Lifeline has a Spanish telephone line at 1-888-628-9454 (toll free).
Depending on the situation, you may benefit from individual or family therapy—either to get you through the worst of the crisis or to help you adjust to life after suicide. In some cases, short-term medication can also help.
Facing the future with a peaceful mind
In the relatives After suicide, you may feel that you cannot move on with your life, or that you will never enjoy life again.
In fact, you’ve probably always wondered why it happened – even years later reminders can trigger painful feelings. Eventually, however, the raw intensity of your grief wears off.
Understanding the complex legacy of suicide and how to deal with apparent grief can help you heal while still honoring your loved one’s memory.
from Mayo Clinic to your inbox
Register for free to stay informed about research progress, health tips and current health topics such as COVID-19, and expertise in managing your health.
In order to provide you with the most relevant and useful information, and to understand what is beneficial, we may share your email and website usage information with us Combine with other information you have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this may include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of this information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our Notice of Privacy Practices. You may opt out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the email.
August. May 5, 2022
Ross V, et al. Exploring the cause of suicide And the support needs of the bereaved: a qualitative study. Omega – Journal of Death and Dying. 2019; doi: 10.11770030222819825775. Mitchell AM, et al. Suicide of significant other PTSD symptoms in bereaved survivors. Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association. 2017; doi: 10.1177/1078390316673716.
understand deeper
.