Healing After Suicide

So many people are losing loved ones to suicide these days. The rates of suicide are staggering and still on the rise. In this episode, Beth shares some thoughts which might be helpful for those who find themselves grieving loved ones who took their own lives. Key points: 

1) Most people who contemplate suicide or complete suicide are depressed, in agonizing pain, and hopeless. 

2) Those who want to take their lives rarely warn people because they do not want to be stopped. 

3) They are tired of life being so painful and they believe that there has to be less pain in death

4) Those who are left behind almost always feel guilty, but it is not your fault. You would have stopped them if you could, but you weren’t given the chance. 

5) You can offer help to those who are severely depressed or battling severe addiction, but you can’t force them to continue treatment or monitor them 24/7

6) Parallel: sometimes we have to let people go when they are sick and ready to stop treatment, and telling them it’s OK to go is the greatest gift we can give them. Maybe we can gain peace by applying this principle retroactively to those who have taken their life. 

7) Things you can do as you begin to heal: 

-Don’t internalize your pain, talk about it with loved ones, counselors, or in your journal. 

-Write your loved one a letter or a series of letters. Tell them what you wish you could have said. 

-Find a grief support group or a suicide survivors support group.

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