Surviving a Suicide Loss  |  Resource and Healing Guide
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More frequently, they blame themselves for not anticipating and 
preventing the actual act of suicide. Additionally, suicide loss 
survivors may experience heightened feelings of rejection or 
abandonment by the loved one, along with anger toward the 
deceased (“How could they do this to me?”).
It is important to note that whatever you are feeling during this 
time is a human reaction to an extremely stressful loss. You may 
have feelings of anger, sadness, confusion, or fear, among others. 
Your thoughts and feelings may also be informed by what you know 
about suicide and what you’ve heard or learned about suicide over 
the course of your life, as well as your previous experiences with 
sudden loss. We also know that cultural and religious beliefs may 
play a role in how you experience suicide grief, and it is important 
to note that different traditions may have different rituals that are 
part of your grief.
There is no one way to grieve a suicide loss, and you may find that 
those around you are grieving in different ways. It is important to 
allow space for yourself and those around you to grieve in the way 
that they need to. Some may want to talk about the person that 
died, and the death, while others may feel less of a need to talk 
about what happened. Many suicide loss survivors find that talking 
to others who have experienced a suicide loss (such as in a support 
group) can be helpful as they process the many feelings associated 
with suicide loss.
What Do I Do Now?
It’s important to remember that you can 
survive the pain. 
Here is some guidance from fellow suicide loss survivors.

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