Offering hope, comfort and support for survivors of suicide loss.
As we get deeper into the holiday season, we wanted to share a reflection from guest author Kimberly Starr, who lost her son Tom to suicide in 2015. She wrote this nostalgic piece just nine months after his passing while facing the first Christmas without him at home.
Christmastime is Here
The Christmas season is a joyous time in our household, usually kicked off by our family going to purchase a tree at Beaver Bark, a local nursery in ...
The signs of the holiday season are ubiquitous: holiday decorations in the stores, piped in Christmas carols, holiday displays at the malls, TV programs focusing on selecting the perfect gift, holiday parties and gift exchanges at work. In many cases, this bustle of activity contrasts markedly with the emptiness and despair of grief. As one grieving person expressed it, “I wanted to crawl into a hole and come out after the holidays had passed.” ...
We touch on nearly every aspect of grief following the loss of a loved one to suicide here, but I realized the connection we have with pets during this time is one we really haven't addressed. As I played with our aging family dog during a recent visit to my hometown, I was reminded that he is one of the few connections we still have to my dad, who passed away over six years ago. It’s so hard to believe, but my dad picked out this puppy on a ...
Giving thanks after a suicide loss can feel nearly impossible. It is a time when we are supposed to be thankful for everything that we have been given. In the aftermath of a suicide it can be difficult to find anything to be thankful for. The pain in our hearts, and the emptiness that remains often overshadows anything that surrounds us. Joy becomes a stranger, knocking at the door less frequently than before. The laughter that fills the air, can ...
Suicide loss touches survivors in many different ways. Today’s guest blogger, Trevor, reflects on the double stigma that can be felt by those who lost someone following a battle with addiction, specifically. This experience is particularly difficult because family and friends may feel guilty that they weren’t able to help break the addiction in addition to preventing the suicide. However, it’s important to remember that it’s unfair to shoulder ...
