The Healing Narratives of Suicide Grief

Kristina from Vancouver lost her sister Erin in late 2013, 7 years at the time of recording this podcast.
In this powerful episode Kristina describes how her family decided to talk about what her sister couldn’t –  mental health. The COVID lockdown has given Kristina time to pause and consider how to best talk about her sister’s suicide. She has started training for an Iron Man event and thrown herself into learning everything she can about mental health and suicide.
 As both sisters who have lost a much loved sibling, we discuss:
How to talk about suicide.
The difference between mental health and physical health.
The challenges of supporting others through their mental health.
How Kristina felt she wanted to defend Erin.
How best to try and understand suicide without ever knowing the full truth.
Handling social situations and how others can best support us.
Grief and gratitude.
Please listen with care and know there are people out there that can help and support you. 
Within the UK: 
Samaritans - Free on 116 123 
Suicide&Co - Free on 0800 054 8400 Mon-Friday 9aam-9pm 
Within the US: 
Suicide Hotline: Free on 1-800-273-8255 or text 742741 
Find Dr Sue:
Instagram
Facebook
Linked In
For more resources: www.suicidegriefsupport.com
For EMDR Grief Retreats - www.EMDRGriefRetreat.com
 
The links you need from this episode:
Kristina on Instagram
Suicide Support in Vancouver

This is Jane’s story. Jane lost her husband, Terry, to suicide in November 2019 and is in the process of starting a charity in his name (TRH Charity).
In this episode we discuss:
• Why Jane is starting a charity.
• How we can work as a community to offer more proactive support.
• How Jane managed all of the ‘why’ questions.
• How suicide grief is different to other types of grief.
• How Jane found solace through the church.
 A real story of trying to come to terms with a suicide loss.
 
Please listen with care and know there are people out there that can help and support you. 
Within the UK: 
Samaritans - Free on 116 123 
Suicide&Co - Free on 0800 054 8400 Mon-Friday 9aam-9pm 
Within the US: 
Suicide Hotline: Free on 1-800-273-8255 or text 742741 
Find Dr Sue:
Instagram
Facebook
Linked In
For more resources: www.suicidegriefsupport.com
For EMDR Grief Retreats - www.EMDRGriefRetreat.com
 
The links you need from this episode:
TRH Charity
Survivors of Bereavement through Suicide (SOBS)
 
 

It was only when Kathy lost her son and ex-husband to murder-suicide in April 2020 she realised how grief had affected her whole life.
Kathy lost both her Dad and Aunt to suicide before she was a teenager and her brother in a motorbike accident aged 22. Kathy developed chronic physical illnesses as a child and sought her own ways of healing something she thought was wrong with herself.
After her son died and took his father with him, Kathy spiralled into grief and realised she didn’t need fixing but needed to grieve. She is doing so, consciously and mindfully, making time to grieve whilst doing everything she can to help her daughter grieve too.
In this powerful episode Kathy and I discuss:
The physical effects of grief.
Breathwork, meditation, nature and yoga.
Catholicism and suicide.
Combatting guilt.
Loneliness.
How to communicate with children around grief.
How Kathy continues her bond with her son – not his final act.
How Kathy is managing to balance grief with life.
A very touching story full of wisdom, vulnerability and strength.
 
Please listen with care and know there are people out there that can help and support you. 
Within the UK: 
Samaritans - Free on 116 123 
Suicide&Co - Free on 0800 054 8400 Mon-Friday 9aam-9pm 
Within the US: 
Suicide Hotline: Free on 1-800-273-8255 or text 742741 
Find Dr Sue:
Instagram
Facebook
Linked In
For more resources: www.suicidegriefsupport.com
For EMDR Grief Retreats - www.EMDRGriefRetreat.com
 

Tracy lost her teenage daughter, Chelsie, to suicide 15 years ago and brings bucket-loads of wisdom to this episode.
Tracy shares many things: from how it felt parenting her son through his emotional difficulties to common issues found after suicide loss like the relationship fractures, stigma, shame and physical pain she experienced.
We also discuss word choices around suicide, the lack of support available for suicide-loss survivors and how we feel people can best support us.
 
Please listen with care and know there are people out there that can help and support you. 
Within the UK: 
Samaritans - Free on 116 123 
Suicide&Co - Free on 0800 054 8400 Mon-Friday 9aam-9pm 
Within the US: 
Suicide Hotline: Free on 1-800-273-8255 or text 742741 
Find Dr Sue:
Instagram
Facebook
Linked In
For more resources: www.suicidegriefsupport.com
For EMDR Grief Retreats - www.EMDRGriefRetreat.com
 
Links you need from this episode:
JOURNEY THRU GRIEF
Email: info@journeythrugrief.com
Journey Through Your Suicide Loss Podcast 
Facebook Page
Instagram Page
Support for those who are supporting children or teens through mental health issues
Alliance of Hope

Amy lost her Mum to suicide when she was 21 years old and the family didn’t speak about it, leaving her just to get on with life.
It wasn’t until she was 31 years old and her grandmother died that Amy realised she needed to find a way through her grief. Amy discussed how she did this through using natural holistic solutions.
 
Please listen with care and know there are people out there that can help and support you. 
Within the UK: 
Samaritans - Free on 116 123 
Suicide&Co - Free on 0800 054 8400 Mon-Friday 9aam-9pm 
Within the US: 
Suicide Hotline: Free on 1-800-273-8255 or text 742741 
Find Dr Sue:
Instagram
Facebook
Linked In
For more resources: www.suicidegriefsupport.com
For EMDR Grief Retreats - www.EMDRGriefRetreat.com
 
Find Amy here…
Amy on Instagram
Webinar - Healing our 3 brains
Amare
Free Meditation from Amy
Young Living Thieves Starter Kit (Use Sponsor Code: #3559939)
 

Sasha’s Mum died in an accident 8 years ago when Sasha was 29. She then lost her Dad to suicide almost 3 years ago and that changed the trajectory of her grief.
Sasha felt that her mum’s death was going to prepare her for her Father’s death but she was surprised at the different layers that came and had to learn how to manoeuvre through the waves of grief again.
We discuss:
the differences between suicide loss and other losses
what it was like for Sasha becoming an orphan as an adult
Sasha’s confusion around her dad's death and how she had to break through that in order to process the rest of her grief
what it felt like for our families to shrink so quickly
how Sasha changed the trajectory of her career and is living a more meaningful life
A very real, daughter’s story.
 
Please listen with care and know there are people out there that can help and support you. 
Within the UK: 
Samaritans - Free on 116 123 
Suicide&Co - Free on 0800 054 8400 Mon-Friday 9aam-9pm 
Within the US: 
Suicide Hotline: Free on 1-800-273-8255 or text 742741 
Find Dr Sue:
Instagram
Facebook
Linked In
For more resources: www.suicidegriefsupport.com
For EMDR Grief Retreats - www.EMDRGriefRetreat.com
 
Find Sasha here:
IG: the_grieving_daughter
Buy Sasha's Book 'She Grieves'
 

This is Laurence’s touching story of losing his partner, James, to suicide 8 years ago.
 
Hear how Laurence:
• did his absolute best to support James through his mental health difficulties.
• had friends that helped by just being there.
• coped when a lot of friends scattered.
• got stuck - feeling like he was living for James.
• coped with the blame and anger he felt from others.
• had to get to know ‘suicide.’
 
Please listen with care and know there are people out there that can help and support you. 
Within the UK: 
Samaritans - Free on 116 123 
Suicide&Co - Free on 0800 054 8400 Mon-Friday 9aam-9pm 
Within the US: 
Suicide Hotline: Free on 1-800-273-8255 or text 742741 
Find Dr Sue:
Instagram
Facebook
Linked In
For more resources: www.suicidegriefsupport.com
For EMDR Grief Retreats - www.EMDRGriefRetreat.com

Joe tells his story of losing both his mother and father to suicide before he was 11 years old. After over 30 years of coping with a generalised anxiety disorder, panic attacks, a divorce and the stress of being a professional business man, Joe and I discuss important areas of mental health, business and suicide loss, including:
The significance of trauma after suicide loss.
The needs of teenagers when faced with suicide loss.
The physical effects of depression.
How Joe coped as a teenager through snowboarding, friendships and music.
How the COVID lockdown helped Joe make healthy life choices in business.
How Joe managed his panic attacks.
Empathic leadership.
A story illuminating the possible effects of suicide loss on a child and a growing man.
 
Please listen with care and know there are people out there that can help and support you. 
Within the UK: 
Samaritans - Free on 116 123 
Suicide&Co - Free on 0800 054 8400 Mon-Friday 9aam-9pm 
Within the US: 
Suicide Hotline: Free on 1-800-273-8255 or text 742741 
Find Dr Sue:
Instagram
Facebook
Linked In
For more resources: www.suicidegriefsupport.com
For EMDR Grief Retreats - www.EMDRGriefRetreat.com
 
To find Joe:
Joe on Instagram
Data Gives Back on Instagram
Data Gives Back website
Seasons Centre for Grieving Children
Curse of the strong book