Finding Support After Losing a Loved One to Suicide

November 21 is International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day, a day for people who have lost someone to suicide to feel less alone. If you are grieving this kind of loss, please know that what you feel is valid, and you do not have to carry it by yourself. At Wellness for Our Future, we want to offer gentle information and a reminder that support is available.

Alt text: Woman sitting by a window with her arms wrapped around her knees, holding her shoulder with one hand. 

Grief After Suicide Can Feel Different

Losing someone you love is painful in any circumstance. Loss to suicide often brings added layers, and many people experience several at once:

• Shock and disbelief

• Guilt or repeated "what if" questions

• Anger, toward the person who died, others, or yourself

• Confusion and a search for answers that may never come

• Sadness mixed with moments of numbness

None of these feelings mean you are grieving the wrong way. There is no right way.

It Is Not Your Fault

Suicide is complex, and it rarely comes from one cause or one missed moment. Hindsight can make things look clearer than they were. You are not to blame for what happened.

Why This Loss Can Feel So Lonely

Stigma and silence around suicide can leave survivors without the support grief usually brings. In some families and communities, the topic is rarely discussed, which can make people grieve privately. Naming the loss, even to one trusted person, can ease that isolation.

Finding Support

• Talk with someone you trust: You do not need the perfect words. Simply sharing is enough.

• Look for survivor support groups: Organizations like the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention host groups and events for people who have lost someone to suicide.

• Seek therapy: A therapist can help you work through grief, guilt, and trauma at your own pace. Our post on how grief can affect your mental health long after a loss explains why grief can resurface over time.

• Be gentle on hard days: Anniversaries and holidays can stir up grief. Our guide on managing joy and grief during the holidays may help.

If You Need Support Right Now

If you are having thoughts of suicide yourself, or you are worried about your safety, please call or text 988 (the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), available 24/7. If you are in immediate danger, call emergency services.

You Are Not Alone

Healing after this kind of loss takes time, and it does not follow a schedule. Contact us when you are ready to talk. At Wellness for Our Future, our clinicians provide culturally responsive, evidence-based therapy in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut, rooted in culture and understanding.

This is a sensitive topic. If this post brings up difficult feelings, the resources above are available to you, and reaching out to a mental health professional can help.

Wellness for Our Future

📞 Call us at (781) 817-3956

🌐 Visit www.wellnessfof.org

📧 Email us at inquiry@wellnessfof.org