The following is my teaching outline for a workshop I taught for pastors and leaders (November 2018) in Long Beach, CA.
Resources to support those who are grieving
the loss of someone to suicide
aka:
survivors of suicide (the family and friends left behind after their loved one
dies by suicide)
This
org is based in Garden Grove, CA. They have a support group 2x month in Garden Grove. Their website also has an extensive list of
current area support groups, in Los Angeles and Orange County.
The
website of the American Foundation for the Prevention of Suicide has a
thorough list of book recommendations.
How grieving a suicide death is different
from many other deaths: SHAME and TRAUMA
Handout
# 1: https://whatsyourgrief.com/grieving-suicide-death/
Handout
#2: Do’s and Don’t When Supporting a Survivor of Suicide
Do’s
and Don’ts When Supporting a Survivor of Suicide
Things to say/do…
·
How
are you feeling today?
·
I
don’t know what to say…
·
This
must be so hard for you…
·
I
can’t imagine what you are going through, but I wanted to let you know that I’m
here if you’d like to talk. I’m not sure what to say, but I’m here to listen
·
Recall
a positive memory about the person who died
·
I
miss (name of the person who died)… how are you?
·
Can
I take you anywhere that would help? (doctors, shopping, appointments etc)
·
Would
you like to go for a walk together?
·
What
can I do to help? (And offer a few
specific things)
·
What
do you need? Do you want to talk about your
feelings? To not talk about your feelings?
To do something quiet together?
To go to a movie and laugh? To be
present while you do paperwork?
Spend some time
processing what this suicide brings up for you and how that might impact your
ability to care.
What not to say/do…
·
Avoid
asking for details about the death itself, such as how the person died, who saw
it, etc.
·
Avoid
asking questions that try to piece together why it happened.
·
Avoid
clichés such as “They are in a better place” “Time heals everything” “they are
at peace now”
·
Avoid
phrases such as “It was God’s will” “It was his time to go Home.”
·
Avoid
initiating questions of personal faith or theology, “did s/he know Jesus?”
“well, I believe suicide is not a sin…”
·
Avoid
trying to find silver linings, “isn’t it good that the kids weren’t home…”
·
Avoid
identifying with the loss, “I know how you feel…” (unless you did lose someone
to suicide)
·
Avoid
talking a lot about your own experiences, especially if they are not suicide
bereavement
·
Phrases
that could be seen as judgmental, such as “they were selfish to do that” “they
took an easy way out”
·
Don’t
share the news unless at the request or with permission of the survivor (don’t
post on social media, don’t put on the prayer chain)
Don’t avoid the
survivor.