Supporting Survivors of Suicide Loss - Young Adult Council

DBSAlliance

Nearly 46,000 Americans died by suicide in 2020. That’s one death every 11 minutes.

Coping with the loss of a loved one is challenging. It can also be difficult for people around them to know how to best support them. DBSA Young Adult Council members Olivia Eiler and Jamie Vaughn spoke with two co-facilitators from the Survivors of Suicide (SOS) bereavement support group at UMPC Western Psychiatric Hospital’s STAR-Center in Pittsburgh. They share their personal experiences with suicide loss, offer practical tips for supporting survivors, and discuss resources for survivors.

For Immediate Help:

National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Call or text 988

Online Resources:

American Association of Suicidology

https://suicidology.org/

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

https://afsp.org/

Survivors of Suicide bereavement support group

https://www.starcenter.pitt.edu/clinical-services/survivors-suicide

Jamey Covaleski

412-864-3346

[e-mail]

The Dougy Center for Grieving Children & Families

https://www.dougy.org/

The Child Mind Institute

https://childmind.org/topics/suicide-self-harm/

Books for Adults:

After Suicide Loss: Coping with Your Grief by Bob Baugher and Jack Jordan

No Time to Say Goodbye: Surviving the Suicide of a Loved One by Carla Fine

When Bad Things Happen to Good People by Harold S. Kushner

Why People Die by Suicide by Thomas Joiner

History of a Suicide: My Sister’s Unfinished Life by Jill Bialosky

I’m Sorry For Your Loss: Hope and Guidance in Managing Your Grief by Lillian L. Meyers, Ph.D.

My Son…My Son: A Guide to Healing After Death, Loss, or Suicide by Iris Bolton

Voices of Healing and Hope: Conversations on Grief after Suicide by Iris Bolton

Cracked, Not Broken: Surviving and Thriving After a Suicide Attempt by Kevin Hines

It’s OK That You’re Not OK: Meeting grief and loss in a culture that doesn’t understand by Megan Devine

Grief One Day at a Time: 365 Meditations to Help You Heal After Loss by Alan Wolfelt, Ph.D.

A Time to Grieve: Meditations for Healing After the Death of a Loved One by Carol Staudacher

Shattered: Surviving the Loss of a Child by Gary Roe

Signs by Laura Lynne Jackson

Books for Children:

Suicide Loss: What Teens Need to Know by Terri Erbacher, Ph.D. & Tony Salvatore, MA

But I Didn't Get to Say Goodbye: For Parents and Professionals Helping Child Suicide Survivors by Barbara Rubel

My Uncle Keith Died by Carol Ann Loehr, Julianne Costentino & James Mojonnier