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 This month, on Saturday, November 22, we recognize International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day. In 1999, the U.S. Congress designated the Saturday before Thanksgiving as International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day, or “Survivor Day.”
The holidays can be a painful time for loss survivors of all kinds. While grief after losing someone to suicide shares similarities to other types of grief, suicide grief also has unique facets. Many suicide loss survivors experience universal grief reactions such as sadness, pain, and yearning for the person who died.
They may also experience feelings of:
- guilt or blame for not being able to predict and prevent the death
- abandonment or rejection that the person chose to leave
- shame and stigma
- avoidance and isolation from social support
Survivors of suicide loss often face complicated grief. Stigma and silence can deepen their grief and isolate them from the understanding and support they need. Local and virtual events on Survivor Day give loss survivors a chance to share their experiences, heal, and support each other. These events also help fight the stigma and silence that often come with suicide loss.
Keep reading to learn more about the impact of suicide loss and ways you can support suicide loss survivors.
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Survivor Day Events
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) sponsors both in-person and virtual events for survivors of suicide loss. Find an in-person event near you.
AFSP also hosts two virtual events that stream on Facebook and YouTube.
Día de Esperanza/Day of Hope: Friday, November 21
This event includes a Spanish language panel discussion about the perspectives on mental health and suicide loss in Hispanic and Latinx culture.
Survivor Day Live: Saturday, November 22
The event features a special screening of an AFSP-produced documentary and a panel discussion featuring loss survivors' experiences and healing journeys.
Visit the AFSP International Survivors of Suicide Loss page to view previous recordings of these events.
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VA Resources for Survivors of Suicide Loss
In the aftermath of losing someone to suicide, you may be unsure what to do next. Please know, you are not alone. VA offers services after the loss of your loved one to suicide. Accessing VA support services, including survivor benefits and memorial services, can help you grieve and begin healing.
Find VA resources for survivors of suicide loss here. The VA Resources for Suicide Loss Survivors Support Guide contains even more information and resources.
Uniting for Suicide Postvention (USPV)
Suicide postvention refers to providing immediate and ongoing support to those impacted by a suicide loss. Postvention is critical to promote healing after suicide and reduces suicide risk for loss survivors.
Find out more about suicide postvention by visiting the Uniting for Suicide Postvention (USPV) website. This public resource focuses on postvention education for community, providers, and workplace settings.
In honor of International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day, we encourage you to visit the Community Section of the USPV Website to listen to stories from loss survivors. Sharing these stories can play an invaluable role in the healing process.
VA Employees can access more information on VA specific postvention resources and learn about the monthly Postvention Community of Practice Call by visiting the USPV SharePoint (only accessible to VA employees).
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Healing After Suicide Loss Brochure
This brochure explains what suicide postvention is and how it promotes healing after suicide loss. The brochure also provides education about common reactions to suicide loss, offers suggestions for coping strategies, and encourages individuals to visit USPV for resources to help navigate the journey following suicide loss.
Request copies of the brochure through our order form.
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