Last Updated on June 3, 2023

More than 33,000 individuals take their own lives each year, leaving behind countless Depression is usually the inherent reason for suicide — and for those left to mourn a loved one who committed suicide, depression may also function as the outcome.

Any family can be struck by suicide. Teens who are depressed and using drugs are prone to suicide. Girls are somewhat much more than likely to have suicidal thoughts, but guys are somewhat prone to die from suicide. The household member at greatest danger might even be an elderly grandfather.

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But no matter who the victim is, their family members could feel like victims. “Suicide survivors feel sad, angry, betrayed, bewildered, and shocked. The injury of suicide may break a family apart,” says Nadine J. Kaslow, PhD, professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, who has a grant from the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention to develop strategies to help families make do with suicide.

“Family members may suffer from depression symptoms for example hopelessness, loss of desire, and problems sleeping. They have to also handle the guilt, shame, and also the dreadful stigma of suicide,” she clarifies.

Measures to Recovery for Suicide Survivors

Perhaps you are unsure where to go and how to begin recovering, if a person close to you lately committed suicide.

“There’s no right method to recuperate from the suicidal death of someone you care about. This is a procedure that’s different for different individuals,” says Dr. Kaslow. “The first year is the hardest, as well as the recovery is longer and more difficult than with other forms of death that are not as traumatic.”

The suicide survivor’s journey to recovery may include:

• Individual therapy. The treatment needs to be encouraging and should take into consideration all of your religious and ethnic beliefs surrounding suicide. “Suicide victims must be allowed to work through their anger,” says Kaslow. They may need help coping with the feeling of desertion, in case the victim had kids.
• Family therapy. Family members should master coping skills and get help to handle the change in family structure, says Kaslow. Families may come together to determine how they’re going to handle challenging periods like anniversaries and birthdays.
• Creating a suicide story. “It is important for the family to make a narrative that makes sense out of a loved one’s death. This may start with the approval that everyone has an existential choice over their own life,” says Kaslow.
• Support groups. For many suicide survivors, a support group may provide a place where they are able to share their feelings with others who actually understand the journey. This sharing of recovery, hope, and feelings can be a strong tool on the way to acceptance.

“Over time, and with help, most suicide survivors are able to tolerate they do not have to shoulder the blame to get a family Member ‘s suicide. Medicines are not generally needed unless an individual has definite symptoms of clinical depression,” notes Kaslow.

Emotions such as remorse, anger, and shock will disappear over time, however there’s absolutely no set timeline or easy approach to cope with the trauma of suicidal departure.

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Every family and each individual must find their very own way — And what you need most of all is time. You need to come to find out that going on along with your life is not impossible and that recognition is the path to healing and hope.