Suicide Bereavement Support Groups

"There are always two parties to a death; the person who dies and the survivors who are bereaved." -- Arnold Toynbee

In the event of suicide, family members and friends face overwhelming grief, anger and guilt. Many times they feel that if they had seen the signs, showed more caring, listened and let the person know how much they were loved, then the suicide could have been prevented. Various organizations help survivors deal with their emotions and offer forums and educational materials to individuals suffering with loss.

Survivors Road 2 Healing

• Non-Hispanic whites have suicide rates of 14 per 100,000.

  The Survivors Road 2 Healing was founded by a survivor-mom in the effort to help others find hope and ways to heal. Links and materials are offered to help adult and child survivors, to answer questions about God and suicide and to connect survivors with other survivors in different stages of the healing process. The organization has memorials, book referrals, poetry, information on mental illness, a newsletter and a Christian-based online support group.

  Survivors Road 2 Healing
  729 Grapevine Highway #356
  Hurst, TX 76054
  road2healing.com

Heartbeat Grief Support Following Suicide

• The African-American suicide rate is 5 per 100,000.

  The goal of the Heartbeat Grief Support Following Suicide group is to help suicide survivors heal by helping other survivors in the healing process. Gathering in a common grief enables people to share stories, know they are not alone in their sorrow, and to gain hope, relief, love and reassurance for the future. The organization offers comfort and coping techniques and an outlet for venting and validating feelings. The website lists chapter locations and links to helpful materials and information for survivors.

  Heartbeat Grief Support Following Suicide
  c/o East Methodist Church
  1505 E. Monument
  Colorado Springs, CO 80920
  heartbeatsurvivorsaftersuicide.org

Survivors of Suicide

• Suicide was the third leading cause of death for young people ages 15 to 24 in 2006.

  Survivors of Suicide is an online resource that stresses the importance of getting survivors to talk, cry and mourn to heal from their loss. Individuals learn to accept the intensity of their grief and acknowledge their feelings. This resource offers support without passing judgment and assists survivors in their search to understand what happened. It also offers information and links to materials and advice for individuals helping survivors such as avoiding cliches, listening, understanding and offering support through the mourning process.

  Survivors of Suicide
  survivorsofsuicide.com

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Survivor e-Network

• Nearly four times as many males as females die by suicide.

  As of June 2010, The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention consisted of 39 local chapters with another 24 in the process of development. It is a non-profit organization leading research and educational programs to offer support and help to survivors and to advance efforts in suicide prevention. The e-network allows survivors to learn about legislation and research grants designed to reduce suicide rates. Access to facts, resources, prevention projects, support groups, outreach programs, remembrance jewelry and research is available via the website.

  American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Survivor e-Network
  afsp.org