Suicide Loss Support

Loss Survivor Resources

If you have lost a loved one to suicide, you are not alone. There are resources available to help survivors of suicide loss cope.

Support Groups in Wisconsin

Suicide Loss Support Groups Directory

AFSP Suicide Loss Support Groups

Suicide Loss Religious Support Groups Directory

Suicide Bereavement Trained Clinicians Directory

Additional Resources

The Loss Survivors page on the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (NSPL) website includes information on how to take care of yourself, how to support someone who has lost a loved one, and resources for loss survivors.

The I've Lost Someone page on the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) website provides practical information immediately after a suicide loss, ways to connect with other survivors, and ideas for honoring loved ones.

Suicide Loss Survivors in the Profession:
Clinicians, Professionals, and Workers in the Field

These resources were developed primarily for clinicians and schools but can also be useful for parents and communities.

Coping with a Client's Suicide

After a Suicide: a toolkit for Schools

Additional Resources

The Connect Program is recognized as a comprehensive model for planning and implementing suicide prevention and postvention practices, as described in the Action Alliance Paper: Key Elements for the Implementation of Comprehensive Community-Based Suicide Prevention
Comprehensive training curriculum including

Additional Grief Resources

Grieving is an experience we all go through. Lean on family, friends, and even strangers for support. Below we’ve listed several online resources for finding online support forums, in-person support groups, blogs, non-profit organizations, and education about grief.

Professionally Led by Clinicians

What’s Your Grief is a blog managed by mental health professionals who have also experienced the loss of a loved one. The site provides e-learning courses and training for health care professionals as well as those grieving.

Peer Forums

Join an online grief forum to ask for advice or just have someone to listen

In-Person Support Groups

National directories of support groups are also available on Psychology Today

The Alliance of Hope for Suicide Loss Survivors hosts a community forum, local support group directory, and provides books, resources, and other tips for new survivors.

Support System Resources

Friends for Survival is run by a team of volunteers who have all been affected by suicide. The site provides resources on how to give comfort, encourage coping, and otherwise provide support to those grieving the suicide death of a loved one.

Below we’ve listed several online resources for finding online support forums, in-person support groups, blogs, non-profit organizations, and education specific to the loss of a child.

The Compassionate Friends is a non-profit with chapters in all 50 states that helps families grieve after the death of a child.
TAPS provides peer support for families grieving a military member.

Below we’ve listed several online resources for finding support for children, adults, and caretakers.

Camp HOPE offers a free, weekend camp for grieving children and teenagers.
The Dougy Center, A web site providing support in a safe place where children, teens, young adults, and their families grieving a death can share their experiences.
The National Alliance for Grieving Children posts blog posts, hosts a local support directory, and shares resources to help children and their caregivers cope with the grief of losing a parent or loved one.
Loss of a Parent forums provides support for adult children grieving the loss of their parent.

Supporting Children who are Grieving a death by Suicide Toolkit

Below we’ve listed several online resources for finding general grief support after the loss of a Partner/Spouse.

Soaring Spirits is a community of widowed people who share their stories with each other through local support groups, pen pal programs, online forums, and in-person events.
The National Widowers’ Organization provides online resources and peer support to men who lost their spouse or partner.

General Suicide Grief

After Suicide
by John H. Hewett - published by Westminster Press, Philadelphia, PA (1980)
After Suicide Loss: Coping with Your Grief.
by Bob Baugher, Ph.D., and Jack Jordan, Ph.D., 2002.
Black Suicide: The Tragic Reality of America’s Deadliest Secret.
by Alton R. Kirk, Ph.D., Beckham Publications Group, Inc. 2009.
Don't Take My Grief Away From Me
by Doug Manning - published by In-Sight Books (1979)
Forgive & Forget: Healing The Hurts We Don't Deserve
by Lewis B. Smedes - published by Pocket Books (1984)
Healing After The Suicide of a Loved One
by Ann Smolin & John Guinan - published by Simon & Schuster (1993)
Mourning After Suicide
by Lois Bloom - published by The Pilgrim Press (1987)
Silent Grief: Living in the Wake of Suicide.
by Christopher Lukas and Henry Seiden, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2007.
Stronger Than Death: When Suicide Touches Your Life
by Sue Chance - published by Avon Books (1992)
Suicide of a Child
by Adina Wrobleski, Centering Corp., 2002.
Suicide: Prevention, Intervention, Postvention
by Earl Grollman - published by Beacon Press (1988)
Suicide: Survivors: A Guide For Those Left Behind
by Adina Wrobleski - published by Afterwords (1994)
Suicide Survivors' Handbook—Expanded Edition.
by Trudy Carlson, Benline Press, 2000.
The Wilderness of Suicide Grief: Finding Your Way
by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D. Companion Press, 2010.
Touched by Suicide: Hope and Healing After Loss
by Michael F. Myers, M.D., and Carla Fine, Gotham Books, 2006.
Unfinished Conversation: Healing From Suicide and Loss - A Guided Journey
by Robert E. Lesoine and Marilynne Chopel, Parallax Press, 2013.
Why Suicide? Questions and Answers about Suicide, Suicide Prevention, and Coping with the Suicide of Someone You Know (2nd ed.).
by Eric Marcus, HarperOne - a division of HarperCollins, 2010.

Children

After a Parent's Suicide: Helping Children Heal.
by Margo Requarth, Healing Hearts Press, 2006
After a Suicide: A Workbook for Grieving Kids.
Available through The Dougy Center
Child Survivors of Suicide: A Guidebook for Those Who Care for Them.
by Rebecca Parkin and Karen Dunne-Maxim, 1995
My Uncle Keith Died.
by Carol Ann Loehr, Trafford Publishing, 2006
Someone I Love Died By Suicide: A Story for Child Survivors and Those Who Care for Them.
by Doreen Cammarata, Grief Guidance, Inc., 2000

Adolescent/Teen

After.
by Francis Chalifour, Tundra, 2005
After a Suicide: Young People Speak Up.
by Susan Kuklin, Putnam Publishing Group, 1994

Men

Real Men Do Cry: A Quarterback’s Inspiring Story of Tackling Depression and Surviving Suicide Loss.
by Eric Hipple, with Dr. Gloria Horsley and Dr. Heidi Horsley. Quality of Life Publishing Co., 2008
When Suicide Comes Home: A Father’s Diary and Comments.
by Paul Cox, Bolton Press 2002

Inspirational

From the Ashes Flies the Phoenix: Creating a Powerful Life After a Suicide.
by Gretta Krane, Inspiring Enterprises, 2006
Healing the Hurt Spirit: Daily Affirmations for People Who Have Lost a Loved One to Suicide.
by Catherine Greenleaf, St. Dymphna Press, 2006

Family Loss

Do They Have Bad Days in Heaven?: Surviving the Suicide Loss of a Sibling
by Michelle Linn-Gust
Dying to Be Free: A Healing Guide for Families After a Suicide
by Beverly Cobain and Jean Larch
Rocky Roads: The Journeys of Families Through Suicide Grief.
By Michelle Linn-Gust, Ph.D, Chellehead Works, 2010.

Support System

Reaching Out After Suicide: What’s Helpful and What’s Not.
by Linda H. Kilburn, M.S.W. Available from KP Associates, LLC, 2008.
But I Didn't Say Goodbye: For parents and professionals helping child suicide survivors
by Barbara Rubel
Supporting Children After a Suicide Loss: A Guide For Parents and Caregivers.
by Sarah Montgomery, LCSW-C and Susan Coale, LCSW-C , Chesapeake Life Center, 2014
Understanding Suicide, Supporting Children
Available through The Dougy Center

Mental Health America of Wisconsin coordinates Prevent Suicide Wisconsin under a contract with the Department of Health Services.