Survivors Of Suicide Loss

You Are Not Alone

If you have lost someone to suicide, the first thing you should know is that you are not alone. Each year more than 34,000 people in the United States die by suicide — the devastated family and friends they leave behind are known as “survivors.” There are millions of survivors who, like you, are trying to cope with this heartbreaking loss. For more information about our local Survivors of Suicide Loss Bereavement support group go to: http://www.orspc.org/sos-bereavement-group/

Survivors often experience a wide range of grief reactions, including some or all of the following:

• Shock is a common immediate reaction.
• You may feel numb or disoriented, and may have trouble concentrating.
• Symptoms of depression, including disturbed sleep, loss of appetite intense sadness, and lack of energy.
• Anger towards the deceased, another family member, a therapist, or yourself.
• Relief, particularly if the suicide followed a long and difficult mental illness.
• Guilt, including thinking, “If only I had.…”

These feelings usually diminish over time, as you develop your ability to cope and begin to heal.