SUICIDE SERIES 3: Suicide Loss & Survivors
In 2023, 50,000+ Americans died by suicide, that’s a 4% increase over 2022, each suicide death impacts 135 people and elevates the risk of suicide for survivors. Deaths by suicide strike and rip across whole communities.
“Suicide is always complicated” and “death by suicide is multifactorial and complex and cannot be explained by risk factors alone.” Losing a loved one to suicide can result in a complicated grief response. Survivors can be left with unanswered questions, regrets, challenges around stigma and shame, judgment from others, trauma, police/media interactions, self-blame/guilt, and shock along with a mirage of other emotions.
Grief processes vary from person to person, but a sign of a healthy grief response is if there is movement and change in the grief process, and if the survivors are able to connect to positive memories of the lost loved one. Grief is meant to integrate the loss of the loved one and create gratitude in living. A sense of stuckness, prolonged intense pain/sadness, difficulty accepting the loss, and trouble re-engaging with daily life may be indications of a complicated grief response.
The Primary Public Health Suicide Postvention perspective is to facilitate healthy grieving, stabilize affected environments, reduce risky behaviors, and mitigrate the risk of contagion.
Those struggling with grief following suicide loss are recommended to seek out psychotherapy and support groups. Suicide loss is complicated. Coriander Living Collective is here. Reach out.
The 988 Crisis Lifeline is available 24-7 and offers support and resources.
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