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Thoughts from a Long-Term Survivor of Suicide Loss

By Desiree Woodland — 2019

Thirteen years ago, my son took his life. At the time, I could not imagine living one more day or hour without him, much less these many years.

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We Lost Our Son to Suicide. Here’s How We Survived.

I tried many of the supports available to help parents heal, like therapy, support groups, exercise and finding a way to honor our son’s memory.

Article
Julie Halpert
2020
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Understanding Survivors of Suicide Loss

Suicide, however, has been described as a death like no other ... and it truly is. Death by suicide stuns with soul-crushing surprise, leaving family and friends not only grieving the unexpected death, but confused and lost by this haunting loss.

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Deborah Serani
2013
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Supporting Survivors of Suicide Loss

Each year, more than 40,000 people die from suicide in the United States, making suicide the 10th-leading cause of death in our nation. Worldwide, more than 800,000 people are lost to suicide annually.

Article
Dana M. Cea
2019
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Surviving a Loved One’s Suicide

Readers, some of them speaking from experience, discuss how family members are often blamed or feel they could have prevented it.

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The New York Times
2019
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Can Death Become Your Ally?

We cannot hide from death. Its embrace will consume our social existence entirely. Job titles, social position, material possessions, sexual roles and images—all must yield to death.

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Duane Elgin
2011
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Lessons Learned: Forty Years of Clinical Work with Suicide Loss Survivors

After briefly reviewing some of the empirical literature about differences between suicide bereavement and grief after other modes of death, the author argues that perhaps the most distinguishing and difficult aspect of a suicide loss is the “perceived intentionality” of the death, and the...

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John R. Jordan
2020
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Suicide Survivors Face Grief, Questions, Challenges

The recent, untimely deaths of Kate Spade, reportedly from depression-related suicide, and of Anthony Bourdain, also from apparent suicide, came as a surprise to many.

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Harvard Women's Health Watch
2020
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What the Living Can Learn from the Dying

Sean Illing and Frank Ostaseski discuss what Ostaseski has learned from the conversations he’s had with the dying.

Article
Sean Illing
2018
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Living with the Dying

Frank Ostaseski is a tall, slim man with blue eyes that radiate calm. As director of the San Francisco Zen Center’s Hospice Program, he counsels the dying and their families, and teaches others to care for people with terminal illness.

Article
Kim Addonizio
1989
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What Death Teaches About Life: An Interview with Frank Ostaseski

Frank Ostaseski, an internationally respected Buddhist teacher and pioneer in end-of-life care, has accompanied over 1,000 people through their dying process.

Article
Jenn Brown
2019
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Suicide Loss Survivor