Support related to suicide exists, but it's not always easy to find

By John Bateson

THE BASICS

- Suicide Risk Factors and Signs

- Take our Depression Test

- Find a therapist near me

Key points

- Suicide deaths tend to be traumatic for family members and friends.

- Support groups for those who survive a suicide attempt or parents whose children attempt suicide are rare.

- An hour-long video, “Supporting Parents," is one new resource.

Many crisis centers that operate 24-hour suicide prevention hotlines also provide grief counseling to people who are mourning a death. That’s because many people who have lost a loved one to suicide are more at risk for suicide themselves.

#James Donaldson notes:Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticleFind out more about the work I do on my 501c3 non-profit foundationwebsite www.yourgiftoflife.org Order your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,#CelebratingYourGiftofLife: From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy

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The crisis center I directed provided individual counseling and also operated multiple grief support groups. Four of the groups were for survivors of suicide—parents who lost children, youths who lost parents, individuals who lost partners, and others who lost siblings or friends because of suicide. Typically, there were 15 to 20 people in each of these four groups, although sometimes the number was greater, and we needed extra facilitators.

The first night of each group was memorable for one main reason. Upon entering the room, many people gasped. They couldn’t believe that so many other people were there, that so many others had experienced the same tragedy they had experienced, the suicide of a loved one. Until that moment, they felt completely alone.

Our grief counseling director, who was a nationally recognized death educator, started every first night the same way: “I’m so sorry that you’re here, and I’m so glad that you’re here.”

Anytime someone dies, it can be traumatic for survivors. Suicide deaths tend to be the most traumatic of all because of the guilt and stigma attached to them. Survivors think back on every interaction they had with the deceased, especially recent ones, questioning what they did or didn’t do—all of the “what ifs.” Did they miss warning signs? Did they take something the decedent said too lightly? Were they slow to act or did they not act at all, even in the face of what, in retrospect, was ominous?

Support groups for people who have attempted suicide are rare. A few agencies operate them, but they are hard to find, in part because leading this kind of group is daunting. Not only is everyone in it at high risk of suicide, but many suicidal people have emotional needs that can be overwhelming for the facilitator.

Support groups for parents whose children have attempted suicide are even rarer. More often than not, parents seek individual counseling for their child and/or counseling for the family with a private therapist. This, too, can be challenging to find, however, because many clinicians don’t have experience or aren’t comfortable providing this kind of therapy.

One new resource is an hour-long video developed by Zero Suicide titled Supporting Parents. It’s specifically for parents whose child has attempted suicide, and recognizes the fears, anxieties, and questions parents have; the helpless feelings they experience; and the fact that they might feel alone in this, but are not. Many others, sadly, are in the same position.

Having a loved one die or attempt suicide is an isolating experience, but a person doesn’t have to be alone. Help exists.

Zero Suicide is a global health care initiative whose goal isn’t just to prevent suicides but to end them. For anyone who is worried about the safety of a loved one, the only acceptable number when it comes to suicide is zero. Four other resources are noteworthy: The national, three-digit Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (988) connects callers seamlessly to the nearest, certified crisis center so that they can receive immediate, free, confidential counseling. The Crisis Text Line (741741) does the same thing for texters. The Trevor Project (1-888-488-7386) provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth under the age of 25. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has local chapters throughout the country and provides a variety of support services for mental health consumers and family members.

To find a therapist near you, visit the Psychology Today Therapy Directory. https://standingabovethecrowd.com/?p=16397