A listing of support groups in NJ is on the bottom of this page:
(if you are aware of a support group for survivors that is not listed please email me with the information
about the group).
A suicide survivor or a suicide griever is someone who has lost someone close to them from suicide. A person never
"gets over" it, but you can get through it with the support of others, especially others who have traveled down
that painful path, your ability to grieve, and learning to slowly accept that your life is now changed. It will be a different
normal from here on in. I am sorry that you have to be reading this page but do hope that it helps you a little bit feel less
alone.
Suicide often involves
loved ones experiencing a range of feelings including shock, numbness, guilt, anger, confusion, denial, sadness and more.
People wonder forever, why? What if I had only.... Maybe if.... Looking back now I wonder if.... There is
often stigma attached to suicide so at times grievers will unfortunately encounter insensitive people who may look to blame,
judge or exclude you. Often friends don't know what to say so may say something very hurtful "didn't you see any
signs?" or people seem to run the other way to avoid you. You are in pain, and overwhelmed and often the support
and care from old friends may be hard to find. That is why it is so important that you find a support group for survivors,
a good counselor, a good friend to talk to, who is patient and can just listen and be with you, a hot line number to call,
a web site that offers validation or a book that also shares what others like you have gone through to get to the other side,
which now feels so far away. A good site is www.afsp.org (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention) Self care at this
time is extremely important. Taking time to rest (sleep may be hard to come by), cry, exercise, drink water, eat healthy foods
(although you may have lost your appetite) take grief breaks, watch light TV (avoid the news), spend time with supportive
people, or be alone for some times, but careful of isolating, be with only those who give you strength, those who can be quiet
and listen and avoid the toxic people in your life now. Ask a friend to help you with things that are very difficult like
grocery shopping, or cooking or laundry. Below is some information and some self help groups. Try one out for a few times
before making a decision about it. So often those who have been in your shoes tell me that it was the support of strangers
who became friends, who they met at the support groups that got them through the toughest times.
The Suicide Survivor often struggles with meaning. Survivors
often have a hard time finding meaning in the loss. They try to find reasons why. They wonder if something could have been
done. Often survivors have higher levels of guilt, blame and take on the responsibility of the loss. They may worry
if they had some part in the death. Feelings of rejection, abandonment and anger may be intense. There are many unsolved questions
that may never have resolution. Many don't know how to seek support and many friends and family don't know what to say and
often avoid the person. It is not uncommon for some survivors to experience some feelings of relief mixed into their grief.
Although the person is gone there may be a sense of release from the turmoil, if that had been the situation.
Potential Aspects of Suicide Grief:
Shock, Numbness, Denial, Disbelief
Disorganization,
Confusion, Searching, Yearning
Anxiety, Fear, Panic
Explosive Emotions
Guilt, Regret, Self-Blame, Shame, Embarrassment
Sadness, Depression, Loneliness, Vulnerability
Relief, Release
Integration, Reconciliation
Sitting
in the wound: this is about surrendering to your grief in recognition that the only way to the other side is through. This
acknowdeges you are willing to do the work that mourning requires. Paradoxically, this befriending of your wound is what eventually
restores your life and your living. To do this requires that you do not shut the world out, but let the world come in.
- Alan Wolfelt
Plan what to say to others. So often survivors are faced with questions that
are uncomfortable from outsiders. Creating something or a couple of things to say will help so that you feel more prepared.
If someone asks details you may say, "I don't really want to talk about it now". If someone who doesn't know
asks how they died it is fine to say, "she took her life" or "she died by suicide". Some will say, "he
suffered from a long illness" which is the truth for so many who suffered with depression for a long time.
Explaining suicide to children:
Children tend to be less shy about asking all kinds of questions.
Some though, will need help in getting their concerns out. Never lie, as the truth will always come out and later children
often feel angry and hurt that they didn't know the truth. If it is mentionable it is manageable. You can teach that "the
person had an illness inside their brain and it made them so sad that they couldn't be in that pain anymore and they didn't
want to live anymore".Be careful about making the person seem bad because they made a bad decision. They were not thinking
clearly at that time. Teach children that suicide is not an acceptable action. Also let them know that most people who are
sad and depressed do not take their own lives. Most get help from people who can help them, doctors, counselors, friends.
Encourage your child to seek help that is available to them if they need it.
Suicide: When a person kills himself
or herself on purpose. When a person makes his or her own body stop working.
There are many reasons why people die by suicide. Research tells us now that 95% of people who die by suicide
had a mental illness that was diagnosed or was un-diagnosed. At the time of a suicide a person is not thinking about
the effect it will cause on their family and friends. Sometimes they think their family and friends will be glad they are
dead. This is never, never what happens. A family is sad and wish that they could have helped the person. Sometimes
families feel angry too that the person didn't tell them that they were so sad.
Families feel terrible when someone dies by suicide. Some people try to pretend it was an accident. It is always
better to be honest when someone ends their own life. Here is a good way to understand what happens: "Some
people's bodies get sick and don't work right. And sometimes a person's brain or mind doesn't work right. They can't see things
clearly and they feel the only way to solve their problems is to take their own life- to kill themselves. However, this is
never a solution to problems, the only reason they thought of it is that they weren't thinking very clearly. (How do
We Tell the Children? by Dan Schafer and Christine Lyons)
It is important to teach children that there are always
solutions to any problem. It always helps to share our problems with others and listen to the ways that other people may suggest
that we might solve our problem. It is also important as friends of someone who had someone die by suicide that the
focus should be on the loss of the person and not on "how" the person died. No matter what someone is still missing
having someone in their life. There is a lot more confusion, sadness and anger with a death by suicide. It is helpful if the
person can find a suicide survivor group to attend or to go to a suicide survivor web site. Often people want to be with others
who have had a similar situation happen.
WARNING: When seeking counseling or therapy, know that many traditionally trained
mental health counselors or therapists who do not have training in trauma grief, may be quick to diagnose you with PTSD (
post traumatic stress disorder). Check out the qualifications of the person you seek help from and get assurance that they
have training in trauma grief. Suicide grief is complicated and often mimics many of the symptoms of PTSD. It is a real phenomenon,
but doesn't mean you have that particular disorder. You are a normal person having a normal response to an abnormal, infrequent
traumatic experience in your life.
Some myths about suicide grief:
- Grief following suicide is always pathological or complicated grief
- We can always determine the 'whys'
of suicide
- All suicide survivors feel guilty
- Only
certain types of people complete suicide
- Only crazy people complete suicide
- Suicide is inherited and runs in the family
- You should move away from suicide
grief, not toward it
- Tears mean you are weak or lack faith
- You should try not to think about the person who died on holidays, anniversaries and birthdays
- The goal should be to "get over" your grief and "move on" as quickly as possible
- No one can help you with your grief
- Once you reconcile your
grief it will never return
You will grieve
but you will have to make a conscious effort to mourn.
Your grief involves a lot of
different emotions and feelings and thoughts.
Grief impacts people in five areas: physical,
emotional, cognitive, social and spiritual
You need to feel it to heal it
The grief usually hurts more before it hurts less
Grief is unpredictable and will
not progress orderly, instead it may be like a roller-coaster
You don't "get over"
or "move on", you learn to integrate the loss into your life, you learn to live without the person
You need others to help you through grief
You will not always feel this bad!
(adapted
from Alan Wolfelt's book: Understanding Your Suicide Grief)
It is never too early to start healing. Find a support group or a qualified therapist as soon as
possible. Many claim that being in a support group for survivors was the best thing they did after the death. Just being in
a room with others who have lived through this helps so much. (However, you know yourself better than anyone else, so if you think that being around others early
on who will also share their stories will feel too much for you, perhaps wait a bit to attend a group. It does help to call
a group leader and ask questions or discuss any concerns you may have about attending a group. Many attend and don't talk
for the first few times and others open up immediately. It really depends on the person. Do what feels right to you, but please
find people in your life to support you and who listen and don't push you to do anything you are not comfortable doing.)
Support Groups by County
Atlantic:
Heartbreak to Healing: Mutual support and understanding for persons who have lost
a loved one to suicide. Group meets last Tues, 7:30pm, Grace Lutheran Church, Somers Point. Call Dolores 609-345-3230
Atlantic City Grief Support
Group: Professionally run for anyone who has lost someone
to natural causes, homicide, suicide, or sudden death. Meets 2nd Wed, 6:30-8:30pm. AtlanticaCare Healthplex, 1401 Atlantic
Ave, Atlantic City. Call first 609-272-2424
Bergen:
Survivors After Suicide: Professionally run. Provides support for family members and friends of people who died by suicide. Open to all. Meets
1st and 3rd Wed. 7:15-8:45. Vantage Health System, 2 Park Ave, Dumont. Call Michelle at 201-818-7133 or Vantage
Health System 201-385-4400, ext 0
Burlington:
Helping Hands Grief Support Group:
Christian based support
for anyone bereaving the loss of a loved one (including death of a child, loss to homicide or suicide) through education,
encouragement, counseling and understanding. Families welcome. Meets 1st and 3rd Monday 7-9pm. Fellowship Alliance Chapel,
Log house behind church, 199 Church Rd, Medford. Call Wanda and George 609-953-7333 ext 309
Living Through Suicide:
Prof run, Christian based support for those who have lost a loved one to suicide. Meets 4th Monday, 7-9pm. Fellowship
Alliance Chapel, 199 Church Rd, Medford. Call Wanda 609-953-7333 ext 309
Sharing Suicide's Sorrow:
Prof run, Support for family and friends grieving a death from suicide. Meetings vary. The Center for Grief Support,
5 Eves Drive, Suite 180, Marlton. Call 800-596-8550
Camden:
Friends and Families of Suicide:
Support
for those who have lost a loved one to suicide. Meets 2nd Tuesday, 7:45pm. Barrington Borough Municipal Building, 229 Trenton
Ave, Barrington. Call Barbara 856-307-0331. email: survivingsuicidenj@yahoo.com
Essex:
Life After Loss: prof.run, Support for those who have lost a loved one to suicide. Guest speakers, literature and
phone help. Meetings 4th Monday of the month, Congregation Beth Ahm, 56 Grove Avenue, Verona. Next meeting: May 24,
2010 at 7:30 pm. Call first 973-204-9878 email dougbrandt@comcast.net Led by Marcia Eskin and Doug Brant
Mercer:
Surviving After Suicide:
Prof run, Support for those who have lost a loved one to suicide. Quarterly newsletter, meets 3rd Wed, 7:30pm, Trinity
United Methodist Church , 1985 Pennington Rd, Ewing. Call Daniel Casselberry, 609-434-0061 email dbcassel@comcast.net
Middlesex:
Surviving After Suicide:
Prof run, Group for survivors after the suicide of a family member or friend. Meets 3rd Monday 7:30-9pm, University
of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ. University Behavioral Health Care, 671 Hoes Lane, Piscataway. Call Peggy Farrell, 732-462-5267.
email: farrmarg@aol.com
Monmouth:
Surviving After Suicide:
Prof run, Group for survivors after the
suicide of a family member or friend. Meets 2nd Tues 7:30-9:30pm. Bayshore Memorial Hospital, Conference Room A, 717 N. Beers
St, Holmdel. Call Peggy Farrell 732-462-5267 email: farrmarg@aol.com
Morris:
Survivors of Suicide:
Mutual support and discussion for people
who have had someone close to them die by suicide. Meets 2nd and 4th Wed. 7:30-9pm, Grace Episcopal Church, 4 Madison Ave,
Madison. Call Jane Cole 973-786-5178.
Ocean:
Survivors After Suicide:
Support for those who have lost a loved
one to suicide. Meets 2nd Thursday, 7:30pm, St Francis Center, Long Beach Blvd, Brant Beach. Call Jo and Roger 609-361-7608.
Survivors of Suicide:
Grief support and understanding for those
who have lost a loved one to suicide. Meets 2nd Wednesday, 7:30-9:30 pm, Ocean Medical Center, 425 Jack Martin Blvd.
Brick. Before attending call Dave Thelen, 732-899-8483
Surviving of Suicide:
Mutual support for those who have lost
a loved one to suicide. Meets 3rd Tues, 7-9pm. Kimball Medical Center, Center for Healthy Living, 198 Prospect St, Lakewood.
Call Jim Romer 732-886-4475 (day) email: jromer@sbhcs.com
NATIONAL:
American
Association of Suicidology:
American Association of Suicidology:
National , 350 affiliated groups. Referrals to local support groups for survivors of suicide nationwide.
Directory of groups ($15). Newsletter, pamphlets, and brochures available for a fee. Book available on starting self-help
groups ($30) Write : 202-237-2280 website: www.suicidology.org email: info@suicidology.org
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention:
Resource:
Founded 1987. Provides state by state directory of survivor support groups for families and friends who have lost someone
to suicide. Training programs available to start similar groups. 888-333-2377, ww.afsp.org
Heartbreak:
Mutual support for those
who have lost a loved one through suicide. Information, referrals, phone support and chapter development guidelines on-line.
Speakers on suicide bereavement. 719-596-2575. http://heartbeatsurvivorsaftersuicide.org