Bereaved by suicide

There is no one right way to grieve. People experience different stages – feeling numb or a deep longing for the person who has died, which can be accompanied by distress, anger or confusion. Intense sadness might follow. The final phase of grieving is to let go of the person, not to forget them, and begin to move on with your life.

Bereavement of a suicide can bring additional feelings. Even when the person has made previous suicide attempts, been very depressed or self-harmed, their death is still a shock. Nothing can prepare you for this.

You‘ll want to know why someone you cared about took their own life. The emotions you feel can be powerful, frightening and overwhelming.

Regardless of the circumstances, you will probably need support, from friends or family, or maybe from another source, like a counsellor or support group.

After a Suicide (external website) from the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) provides help with practical issues, talks about the grieving process and suggests sources of further support. It was revised in 2009 and includes information on:

• practical issues: such as registering the death and arranging the funeral
• the grieving process: common reactions and feelings when grieving
• useful contacts and resources: bereavement, mental health and practical support.

'Knowing that this booklet was at hand meant there were others out there who had gone through and were going through this experience. It made me feel less alone.'

(Jacqui, from 'After a Suicide' SAMH, 2009)

Media volunteers

Those who have been affected by suicide can take part in the ‘see me’ media campaign for the promotion of suicide prevention and awareness in Scotland.