The death of a loved one is heart-wrenching and painful. But when the death is because of suicide, those left behind face even more difficult challenges in coping and healing.Suicide can affect partners, children, parents, siblings, friends, colleagues and medical providers. As a survivor of suicide, overwhelming emotions can leave you reeling. It may seem like your support system has vanished. And you may be consumed by guilt, wondering if there’s something you could have done to prevent your loved one’s death.

Bereavement after a loved one has taken his or her own life is often more complicated, intense and prolonged than it is with a death from natural causes. Although as a survivor of suicide you may never fully recover and always feel a loss, you can learn how to cope better and eventually move forward in a way that’s healthy.

It’s common for a wave of powerful emotions to wash over you when you first learn of a loved one’s death by suicide.

The immediate emotional response after a suicide often includes: (more…)