What You May Feel in the Days or Weeks Ahead
Individuals, families, and close friends who are bereaved by suicide may first experience several days of shock. The death of their loved one does not seem real. For many, the question ‘why?’ will haunt them and remain unanswered. Some will find an answer, or peace without an answer.
Some who grieve think their loved one could not possibly have ended their own life. This belief may eventually change. Suicide loss survivors sometimes speak of their lives and their grief as a journey. Some worry that suicide will bring shame to their family. Others will speak openly of suicide, in hopes of bringing new awareness about the risk and emotional cost of suicide.
What we know is that a suicide is usually due to unendurable psychological pain. It is rare for there to be only a single cause for any suicide. We are sometimes, but not always, able to identify what created such pain for our loved one.
Some families choose to speak publicly as advocates for suicide prevention. Your county or community may have a suicide prevention coalition that can help you with that. (See the resources page.) Others prefer to keep discussion of their loved one’s death within the family. There is no right or wrong way to grieve your loved one. Even within your family, you are likely to see differences. Sometimes differing responses to suicide can tear families apart.
It is important to seek help after suicide loss as the grief one experiences can be complicated for all the reasons mentioned above. Help comes in many different forms ranging from professional grief support, to peer support groups, to suicide loss care packages, book, chaplains, etc. It’s important to find one or more forms of support where you feel safe to talk about your feelings without judgement and where you can learn more so that you can undertake a healing journey as opposed to a self-destructive one.
Below is a list of loss survivor support groups in WA state that can help.
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Resources for Grief and Loss:
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State and National Resources on Suicide Grief: This Washington State Department of Health website includes information on grief resources, including resources for responding to a suicide at school or at work:
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Practical Information for Immediately After Loss: The immediate aftermath of a loved one's suicide is a difficult, bewildering, and agonizing period. The following guidance aims to assist you in navigating the first few days, providing insight into the challenges you are likely to encounter. https://afsp.org/practical-information-for-immediately-after-a-loss/
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The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention offers videos and other resources for individuals and families who have lost a loved one to suicide. For videos, go to https://afsp.org/ive-lost-someone/.
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ADULT LOSS SURVIVOR SUPPORT
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Resource |
Location
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Services |
Contact |
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Nationwide |
Offers compassionate care to all those grieving the loss of a loved one who died while serving in our Armed Forces or as a result of their service |
Survivors 1-800-959-TAPS(8277) |
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King, Pierce, & Thurston County, WA
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Support Groups for Suicide Loss Survivors Specializing in Trauma and Grief
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support@auburnsos.com (206) 384-5114 |
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Whatcom Suicide Survivors Support Group
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Bellingham, WA & Online |
Online Suicide Loss Support Groups |
(360) 671-4950 |
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Redmond, WA & Online |
Suicide Loss Support Meetings & Helpful Suicide Related Resources
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Edmonds, WA |
8-Week Groups for Suicide Loss Survivors
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(425) 640-4404 Intake Interview Required |
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Online |
Suicide Loss Support Group: Meets 2x Month
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(206) 461-3210
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North Idaho Suicide Loss Survivor Support Group |
Hayden, ID & Spokane, WA – Online & In-Person |
Suicide Loss Support Group, Meets 6-8pm on First Wednesday of Month
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(208) 691-9007 |
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Olympia Survivors of Suicide |
Olympia, WA – In-Person |
Suicide Loss Support Group, Meets 6:30 – 8:15 pm on Third Thursday of the Month
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(360) 866-2509 |
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Spokane, WA – Online & In-Person |
Adult & Teen Suicide Loss Support Group, Meets 2x Month
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(509) 951-3713
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Online |
Suicide Loss Groups for Spouses, Partners, Children and Adults
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hello@healingcenterseattle.org (206) 523-1206 |
SUICIDE LOSS SUPPORT FOR CHILDERN AND ADOLESCENTS
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Resource |
Location |
Services |
Contact |
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Seattle, WA |
A Weekend, Overnight Camp for Children Who Have Experienced Suicide Loss |
(267) 687 - 7724 |
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Tacoma, WA |
Family Suicide Loss Support Groups for Children, Adults and Teens – In-Person |
amy.vanzandt@multicare.org, (253) 403-1966 Intake Interview Required |
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Nationwide |
A National Resource Center for Families in Grief |
(503) 775 - 5683 |
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Nationwide |
Resources and Group Support for Suicide Loss Recovery |
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International |
A resource for finding suicide bereavement support groups across the world |
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