A contemplative young man sits alone, symbolizing the emotional struggles associated with mental health and the need for support and understanding, My Forever Son, Breaking the Stigma: Facts About Suicide and Compassion
Breaking the Stigma: Facts About Suicide and Compassion
Key Takeaways
Breaking the Stigma: Facts About Suicide and Compassion addresses common myths and misconceptions about suicide, emphasizing compassion and empathy.
It highlights how cultural, social, and economic factors influence suicide rates.
The article provides global statistics and expert insights to raise awareness and promote discussions on mental health struggles.
It urges support and understanding for those facing suicidal thoughts, debunks many of the myths surrounding suricide, and offers resources for grief and healing.
Summary
Breaking the Stigma: Facts About Suicide and Compassion systematically dismantles the myths and misconceptions associated with suicide, promoting a comprehensive understanding anchored in empathy and care. It methodically examines the cultural, social, and economic factors that influence suicide rates, providing essential global statistics and expert insights that facilitate informed discussions regarding mental health issues. The article advocates for extending support and understanding to individuals confronting suicidal ideation while also offering crucial resources for grief and healing throughout their process.
Additionally, Breaking the Stigma: Facts About Suicide and Compassion systematically dispels common myths about suicide, emphasizing that suicidal ideation is multifaceted and not a reflection of personal weakness. It highlights the importance of recognizing warning signs and underscores the potential for recovery, offering hope to those affected.
The article is particularly relevant for educators, students, parents, and families, as it encourages open communication and compassion, which are vital for both prevention and healing. By addressing misconceptions, Breaking the Stigma: Facts About Suicide and Compassion aims to reduce stigma and foster a supportive environment for those grieving a loss or seeking to help others.
Introduction
Breaking the Stigma: Facts About Suicide and Compassion addresses common myths and misconceptions surrounding suicide, promoting empathy as it clarifies misunderstandings with global statistics, facts, and expert insights. This exploration of Breaking the Stigma: Facts About Suicide and Compassion aims to raise awareness and encourage discussions about mental health struggles, factors that can lead to suicidal thoughts, and the need to offer support and understanding to those facing challenges.
In addition to addressing the societal stigmas surrounding mental health, Breaking the Stigma: Facts About Suicide and Compassion examines the different experiences individuals face across diverse contexts, emphasizing how cultural, social, and economic factors uniquely influence suicide rates and shape the lives of those impacted.
Breaking the Stigma: Facts About Suicide and Compassion delves into the complexities of mental health by presenting case studies, personal narratives, and statistical analyses, illustrating how systemic issues such as poverty, discrimination, and lack of access to mental health resources can exacerbate feelings of isolation and despair.
Encouraging readers to understand the interconnectedness of these issues, the author advocates for a more informed and compassionate approach to mental health advocacy, ultimately aiming to create dialogue and reduce the stigma associated with seeking help.
My Forever Son explores the profound grief, hope, and healing that follow the tragedy of losing a child to suicide.
My Forever Son dovetails the author’s journey of descending into deep grief, searching for hope, and finding healing along the way.
Table of Contents
A delicate white flower surrounded by lush green leaves, symbolizing hope and healing, My Forever Son, Breaking the Stigma: Facts About Suicide and Compassion
Breaking the Stigma Begins with Facts, Compassion, and Connection
A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR:
I write about suicide loss and understanding suicide because I lost my son to suicide 12 years ago. This personal experience has profoundly shaped my perspective and deepened my empathy for others who are navigating this tragic journey. The pain of losing a loved one to suicide is unlike any other; it often leaves survivors grappling with overwhelming feelings of guilt, confusion, and grief.
The Alliance of Hope (for Suicide Loss Survivors) has this to say about losing a loved one to suicide: they emphasize the importance of acknowledging the unique grief associated with such a loss. Survivors may feel isolated, as many people may find it difficult to truly understand the complexity of their emotions. Finding support, resources, and community connections can help survivors feel less alone in their pain. Various coping mechanisms, including therapy, support groups, and educational materials, can help individuals in their healing process.
Compassion and Understanding
By sharing our stories and supporting one another, we can create a ripple effect of compassion and understanding that honors the memories of those we’ve lost while fostering healing among survivors. The journey may be long and fraught with challenges, but together, we can find hope and meaning in the aftermath of tragedy.
Suicide is like a “grenade going off within a family or community.” In the aftermath, those closest are left profoundly wounded and deeply distressed. Many grapple with debilitating emotions, altered relationships, and challenging responsibilities. Although each situation is unique, some issues are shared by survivors of suicide loss.
Alliance of Hope
Personal Stories: Voices from the Journey
A Grandparent’s Grief: “Losing a grandchild to suicide is a double grief. We mourn not only the child but also the pain our own child—the parent—endures. Support and understanding from others who have walked this path are essential.”
Find a extensive list of Support and Resources at the end of this article. Here are a few key resources for support:
Where to Find Help and Healing
For Those Feeling Despair or Hopelessness
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988, or visit https://988lifeline.org/ for free, confidential support 24/7.
Crisis Text Line: Text TALK to 741-741 for English, AYUDA to 741-741 for Spanish.
School Counselors and Social Workers: Early intervention saves lives. Schools should have clear protocols for referring students to counseling services.
Faith Leaders: Many clergy are trained to offer compassionate, nonjudgmental support and can connect families to additional resources.
Message of Hope:
You are not alone. There are people and resources ready to help, no matter how dark things may seem.
Silhouette of travelers walking through an airport terminal, reflecting a bustling journey amidst discussions on mental health and suicide awareness, My Forever Son, Breaking the Stigma: Facts About Suicide and Compassion
Why We Seek Answers
Personal Stories: Voices from the Journey
A Parent’s Story: “After losing my son to suicide, I realized how important it is to talk openly about mental health. Looking back, I noticed subtle changes—he became withdrawn and stopped sharing his thoughts with us. I wish I had known these were warning signs and felt empowered to ask direct questions. Sharing our story helps others feel less alone.”
Expert Insights: Suicide Is Not a Choice
Dr. John Ackerman, Nationwide Children’s Hospital: “We often underestimate the multitude of factors that impact such a complex and irreversible outcome as suicide. Individuals grappling with the profound emotional turmoil that gives rise to suicidal thoughts typically do not wish to end their lives; they are, instead, yearning for relief from the immense pain often exacerbated by the absence of supportive resources and understanding.”
Message of Hope:
Talking about suicide does not increase risk—it opens the door to healing.
Reflection and Journaling Prompts
What are some myths about suicide that you once believed? How has your understanding changed?
Reflect on a time you noticed someone struggling. What signs did you see? How did you respond?
Write about a moment when you felt hope during a difficult time.
How can you support someone in your life who may be experiencing emotional pain?
What does breaking the stigma around mental health mean to you personally?
Breaking the Stigma, Finding Hope
Suicide awareness begins with facts, compassion, and the courage to break myths and stigma. Whether you are grieving, seeking answers, or supporting someone in pain, know that you are not alone. Healing is possible, and hope endures—even in the darkest moments. Reach out, connect, and let compassion guide your journey.
For More Support
My Forever Son blog includes a wealth of resources, personal stories, and posts to help readers understand suicide, cope with grief, and find hope. At the end of each post, you’ll find curated lists of articles, poems, and support links for every stage of the journey.
Personal Stories: Voices of Survival, Loss, and Compassion
A Parent’s Story: “After losing my son to suicide, I realized how important it is to talk openly about mental health. Looking back, I noticed subtle changes—he became withdrawn and stopped sharing his thoughts with us. I wish I had known these were warning signs and felt empowered to ask direct questions. Sharing our story helps others feel less alone.”
A Survivor’s Reflection: “When I was at my lowest, I didn’t want to die—I just wanted the pain to stop. Having someone listen without judgment gave me hope and helped me seek help.”
A Grandparent’s Grief: “Losing a grandchild to suicide is a double grief. We mourn not only the child but also the pain our own child—the parent—endures. Support and understanding from others who have walked this path are essential.”
A Classmate’s Experience: “When our friend died by suicide, our school felt different. We learned the importance of checking in on each other and talking about our feelings, even when it’s hard.”
An Educator’s Intervention: “One of my students began missing classes and seemed disengaged. After a gentle conversation, I learned they were struggling with overwhelming feelings. Connecting them with the school counselor made a difference. Early intervention matters.”
A Survivor’s Journey Forward: “After my attempt, I felt ashamed and alone. But when I finally reached out, I found a community that understood. Recovery isn’t easy, but it’s possible. I am living proof that hope can return, even after the darkest night.”
A Clergy’s Compassion: “As a faith leader, I speak out to remind our community that suicide is not a moral failing. Compassion, not judgment, is what saves lives. We must create safe spaces for honest conversations about pain and hope.”
Actionable Resources: Where to Find Help and Healing
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988, or visit https://988lifeline.org/ for free, confidential support 24/7.
Crisis Text Line: Text TALK to 741-741 for English, AYUDA to 741-741 for Spanish.
The Dougy Center:https://dougy.org/ – Resources for grieving children and families.
Local faith communities and clergy: Many offer confidential support and counseling.
Messages of Hope
Talking about suicide does not increase risk—it opens the door to healing.
Reflection and Journaling Prompts
What are some myths about suicide that you once believed? How has your understanding changed?
Reflect on a time you noticed someone struggling. What signs did you see? How did you respond?
Write about a moment when you felt hope during a difficult time.
How can you support someone in your life who may be experiencing emotional pain?
What does breaking the stigma around mental health mean to you personally?
A Powerful Summation: Breaking the Silence, Embracing Hope
Suicide awareness begins with facts, compassion, and the courage to break myths and stigma. The stories shared here—of parents, survivors, educators, classmates, and faith leaders—remind us that behind every statistic is a life, a family, a community forever changed. The “why” of suicide may never be fully answered, but we can answer with empathy, action, and hope.
If you are struggling, know that your pain is seen and your life matters. If you are grieving, know that healing is possible and you are not alone. If you are supporting someone, your compassion can be a lifeline.
Let us speak openly, listen deeply, and reach out—because hope is real, recovery is possible, and together, we can break the silence and build a world where no one faces despair alone.
For more stories, resources, and support, visit My Forever Son blog, where you’ll find a community of understanding and hope at every step of the journey.
Suicide Awareness Begins with Facts, Compassion, and Connection
Why We Seek Answers
Many who visit My Forever Son blog are chasing the “Why” of suicide. The truth is, there is no simple answer. Suicide is not a chosen death in the way most imagine; it is often the result of overwhelming pain and a lack of reasonable choices. Epidemiology and expert research show that suicidal ideation is rooted in desperation, not selfishness or weakness. The hope seen in ending pain is tragically mistaken for a choice, when in reality, it is the absence of hope and options that drives the act.
Personal Stories: Voices from the Journey
A Parent’s Story: “After losing my son to suicide, I realized how important it is to talk openly about mental health. Looking back, I noticed subtle changes—he became withdrawn and stopped sharing his thoughts with us. I wish I had known these were warning signs and felt empowered to ask direct questions. Sharing our story helps others feel less alone.”
A Survivor’s Reflection: “When I was at my lowest, I didn’t want to die—I just wanted the pain to stop. Having someone listen without judgment gave me hope and helped me seek help.”
A Grandparent’s Grief: “Losing a grandchild to suicide is a double grief. We mourn not only the child but also the pain our own child—the parent—endures. Support and understanding from others who have walked this path are essential.”
A Classmate’s Experience: “When our friend died by suicide, our school felt different. We learned the importance of checking in on each other and talking about our feelings, even when it’s hard.”
An Educator’s Intervention: “One of my students began missing classes and seemed disengaged. After a gentle conversation, I learned they were struggling with overwhelming feelings. Connecting them with the school counselor made a difference. Early intervention matters.”
A Survivor’s Journey Forward: “After my attempt, I felt ashamed and alone. But when I finally reached out, I found a community that understood. Recovery isn’t easy, but it’s possible. I am living proof that hope can return, even after the darkest night.”
A Clergy’s Compassion: “As a faith leader, I speak out to remind our community that suicide is not a moral failing. Compassion, not judgment, is what saves lives. We must create safe spaces for honest conversations about pain and hope.”
Fr. Ronald Rolheiser’s Wisdom: “When someone is too bruised to be touched, we need to let go of our guilt and second-guessing. We are not responsible for their death. Remember their life beyond their suicide, and trust in God’s infinite love and understanding.” “Suicide is often a tragic consequence of mental illness, not a voluntary act. Release guilt and remember the deceased’s life beyond their suicide.”
Takeaways
You are not alone. Many have walked this path and found hope and healing. Reach out—connection saves lives.
Warning signs matter. Withdrawal, changes in mood, giving away possessions, or talking about death are signals to act. Trust your instincts and ask direct questions.
Talking helps. Open conversations about suicide do not increase risk—they open the door to healing and support.
Recovery is possible. With support, many move beyond suicidal thoughts and find meaning and joy again.
Grief is not a failure. If you are grieving, your pain is valid. Healing takes time, and support is available.
Stigma can be broken. Compassion, education, and honest dialogue are powerful tools for change.
Message of Hope:
Recovery is possible. Many who have struggled with suicidal thoughts go on to lead fulfilling lives with the right support.
Actionable Resources
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988, or visit https://988lifeline.org/ for free, confidential support 24/7.
Crisis Text Line: Text TALK to 741-741 for English, AYUDA to 741-741 for Spanish.
The Dougy Center:https://dougy.org/ – Resources for grieving children and families.
Local faith communities and clergy: Many offer confidential support and counseling.
A Powerful Summation: Breaking the Silence, Embracing Hope
Suicide awareness begins with facts, compassion, and the courage to break myths and stigma. The stories shared here—of parents, survivors, educators, classmates, and faith leaders—remind us that behind every statistic is a life, a family, a community forever changed. The “why” of suicide may never be fully answered, but we can answer with empathy, action, and hope.
If you are struggling, know that your pain is seen and your life matters. If you are grieving, know that healing is possible and you are not alone. If you are supporting someone, your compassion can be a lifeline.
Let us speak openly, listen deeply, and reach out—because hope is real, recovery is possible, and together, we can break the silence and build a world where no one faces despair alone.
For more stories, resources, and support, visit My Forever Son blog, where you’ll find a community of understanding and hope at every step of the journey.
A cozy workspace featuring a cup of coffee, open notebooks, and a smartphone, perfect for reflection or studying, My Forever Son, Breaking the Stigma: Facts About Suicide and Compassion
Global Suicide Facts and Statistics: Essential Trends and Insights
Interactive Chart of Suicide Trends
Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Use our interactive chart to track the number of suicide deaths by month and year.
Interactive chart depicting monthly suicide fatalities in the United States from 2018 to 2024, highlighting seasonal trends and the urgency of mental health awareness, My Forever Son, Debunking Suicide Myths: Insights and Facts
Trends in Suicide, Plans, and Attempts in the United States
Over 49,000 people died by suicide in 2023. That is one death every 11 minutes, My Forever Son, Debunking Suicide Myths: Insights and Facts
Interpreting the Data: Racial Groups are Underestimated
Data for race and Hispanic or Latino (Hispanic) origin should be interpreted with caution; studies comparing race and Hispanic origin on death certificates and on U.S. Census Bureau surveys have shown inconsistent reporting. This might lead to underestimates for certain racial groups.
Provisional data shown above are based on death certificate data received, but not yet fully reviewed, by CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). Provisional data provide an early estimate of deaths before the release of final data. Complete documentation may be found at Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
From a Grieving Parent: “After losing my child to suicide, I realized how important it is to notice subtle changes—withdrawal, silence, and giving away belongings. I wish I had known these were warning signs and felt empowered to ask direct questions. Sharing our story helps others feel less alone.”
A young person conveying feelings of isolation and despair, symbolizing the emotional struggles associated with mental health issues, My Forever Son, Breaking the Stigma: Facts About Suicide and Compassion
2024 Sees Record Highs in US Suicide Rates: An In-Depth Statistical Analysis
Matthew Gray, a researcher and writer focused on community and health statistics, has a strong interest in demographics, public health, and how data affects everyday life. In North American Community Hub, Gray has meticulously analyzed statistical data for the latest suicide rates in the United States, aiming to shed light on this pressing issue.
Through his rigorous research, Gray has identified four key reasons contributing to the alarming trends observed in recent years, including socioeconomic factors, mental health challenges, limited access to healthcare, and the impact of social isolation exacerbated by the recent global pandemic.
By delving into these critical areas, Gray hopes to not only inform policymakers but also raise awareness within communities, encouraging proactive measures to address the underlying causes and eventually reduce these rates through targeted interventions and supportive initiatives that foster resilience and mental well-being among vulnerable populations.
US Suicide Rates Reach Record Highs in 2024 – A Statistical Analysis
In 2024, the United States witnessed a significant rise in suicide rates, reaching levels not seen since 1941 according to the USN.
The age-adjusted suicide rate rose to 14.7 deaths per 100,000 individuals, surpassing the 2022 rate of 14.2.
This marks a concerning 30% increase over the past two decades.
Notably, the number of suicide deaths in 2024 exceeded 49,300, indicating a persistent upward trend.
In early 2025, five Michigan counties—Arenac, Bay, Iosco, Midland, and Tuscola—reported a concerning spike in suicide deaths, with seven cases occurring in a short period.
Local health officials emphasized the importance of firearm safety in at-risk households and noted significant increases in depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders based on a January 2025 health survey.
Key Suicide Statistics in the US (2022-2024)
Suicide Rate: The age-adjusted rate per 100,000 returned to its peak after decreasing between 2018-2020.
Highest Risk Groups:
Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native people have the highest racial/ethnic suicide rates at 27.1 per 100,000.
Males account for nearly 80% of suicides, with a rate of 23 per 100,000 compared to 5.9 per 100,000 for females. Firearms were involved in 54.64% of these cases.
The elderly population (85+) has the highest age-related suicide rate at 23 per 100,000.
Common Methods: Firearms are the leading method, used in 54.6% of suicides.
Suicide Rates (2000 – 2024)
Matthew Gray, “US Suicide Rates Reach Record Highs in 2024 – A Statistical Analysis,” February 28, 2025 .
Year
Age-Adjusted Suicide Rate (per 100,000)
Total Deaths
2000
10.4
29,350
2001
10.7
30,622
2002
10.9
31,655
2003
10.8
31,484
2004
11.0
32,439
2005
10.9
32,637
2006
11.0
33,300
2007
11.3
34,598
2008
11.6
36,035
2009
11.8
36,909
2010
12.1
38,364
2011
12.3
39,518
2012
12.6
40,600
2013
12.6
41,149
2014
13.0
42,826
2015
13.3
44,193
2016
13.5
44,965
2017
14.0
47,173
2018
14.2
48,344
2019
13.9
47,511
2020
13.5
45,979
2021
14.1
48,183
2022
14.2
49,476
2023
14.2 (estimated)
49,500+
2024
Data Pending
TBD (14.7)
Suicide rates have risen significantly from 10.4 in 2000 to 14.2 in 2023, a 37% increase over the 23-year period.
Preliminary data for 2023 shows rates holding steady at 14.2 per 100,000, with over 49,300 deaths recorded—a continuation of the troubling upward trend.
Although detailed figures for 2024 are not yet available but are estimated at 14.7, ongoing trends suggest similar or potentially higher rates, underscoring the persistent mental health challenges.
The sustained rise in suicide rates highlights the urgent necessity for widespread mental health resources, public awareness campaigns, and targeted interventions.
Suicide is a growing contributor to daily deaths in the US, where nearly 9,000 people die each day from various causes.
Monthly Trends in Suicide Fatalities in the United States (2018-2024)
Monthly trends in suicide fatalities in the United States (2018-2024 ), Matthew Gray, “US Suicide Rates Reach Record Highs in 2024 – A Statistical Analysis,” February 28, 2025 .
Suicide fatalities tend to peak during late spring and early summer months (April to June) in all observed years.
Lower rates are typically seen toward the end of the year, in November and December, indicating a consistent seasonal trend.
Across 2018 to 2024, the data lines show relatively consistent trends, with no single year showing an anomalous spike or drop.
The provisional data for 2024 and 2023 aligns closely with finalized data from prior years, suggesting that the overall trend in suicide fatalities has remained stable.
Monthly suicide deaths generally hover around 3,000 to 4,000 fatalities, with slight increases during peak months according to the CDC.
The consistent rise in suicide fatalities during spring and summer highlights potential seasonal triggers such as social stressors, lifestyle changes, and mental health challenges.
Suicide Attempts in the United States
Suicide and suicide attempts vary across demographic groups such as age, gender, race, and ethnicity, although they affect all populations.
In 2021, emergency department visits for nonfatal self-harm injuries were estimated at a rate of 148.2 per 100,000 individuals.
According to AFSP, it is estimated that 0.6% of adults aged 18 or older attempted suicide at least once, equating to approximately 1.6 million adults.
Suicide attempt rates among racial and ethnic groups varied, ranging from 1.5% among American Indian/Alaskan Native and Multiracial adults to 0.1% among Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander adults.
Black adults reported a 0.9% attempt rate, while Hispanic and White adults were at 0.6%. The rate for Asian and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander adults stood at 0.2%.
Youth suicide attempts are notably concerning. According to the 2021 Youth Risk Behaviors Survey, 10% of high school students in grades 9-12 reported attempting suicide in the previous year. Female students were 1.86 times more likely to attempt suicide than males (13% vs. 7%).
American Indian or Alaska Native students had the highest attempt rate at 16%, while White students reported a 9% rate. Around 3% of students indicated their attempts required medical treatment by a doctor or nurse.
In 2022, suicide was the 12th-leading cause of death among U.S. veterans, with 6,407 reported cases. For veterans under 45, it was the second-leading cause of death.
Notably, suicide rates were highest among veterans receiving community care services, followed by those receiving direct care from the Veterans Health Administration, according to Mental Health VA.
Rates by Demographics
US suicide rates by demographics, Matthew Gray, “US Suicide Rates Reach Record Highs in 2024 – A Statistical Analysis,” February 28, 2025 .
Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native individuals have the highest suicide rate, highlighting systemic challenges, including lack of access to mental health resources and cultural factors.
Non-Hispanic White individuals have the second-highest rate, reflecting broader issues in mental health care across rural and suburban areas.
Males show a suicide rate four times that of females, consistent with global trends. This underscores the importance of addressing the stigma surrounding men seeking mental health support.
The elderly population (85+) exhibits the highest age-related suicide rate. Contributing factors may include isolation, chronic illness, or limited access to geriatric mental health care.
Methods
The graph below depicts the distribution of suicide methods in 2022.
Suicide methods in the US, Matthew Gray, “US Suicide Rates Reach Record Highs in 2024 – A Statistical Analysis,” February 28, 2025 .
Over 54% of suicides involve firearms, making it the most common method. This statistic suggests that firearm safety and access control are critical areas for intervention to reduce suicide rates.
Suffocation is the second most common method, indicating the need for preventive measures such as crisis intervention and removing access to materials used for such methods.
Poisoning, often involving medication overdoses, underscores the importance of secure storage of prescription drugs and public awareness campaigns.
The “Other” category, while smaller, indicates that suicide methods vary. A broad-based prevention strategy targeting all means of self-harm is essential.
Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Suicide Rates
Racial/ethnic disparities in the US suicide rates, Matthew Gray, “US Suicide Rates Reach Record Highs in 2024 – A Statistical Analysis,” February 28, 2025 .
Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native individuals face significantly higher rates, suggesting cultural, economic, and geographic challenges.
Non-Hispanic White individuals follow, indicating a need for mental health services tailored to suburban and rural demographics.
Non-Hispanic Asian and Hispanic populations have lower rates, but cultural stigma against mental health treatment in these groups may lead to underreporting.
Each racial/ethnic group’s unique challenges call for culturally sensitive mental health outreach and support initiatives.
Age Disparities
US suicide rates by age range, Matthew Gray, “US Suicide Rates Reach Record Highs in 2024 – A Statistical Analysis,” February 28, 2025 .
Adults aged 85 and older have the highest suicide rate, pointing to challenges like isolation, physical health decline, and lack of geriatric mental health care.
Rates for the 45-54 and 35-44 age groups remain consistently high, reflecting stressors such as financial instability, work-life balance challenges, and family pressures.
While the rate for ages 10-14 is low, any suicide in this group is alarming and highlights the importance of addressing bullying, social media effects, and early mental health interventions.
Recent studies have highlighted a significant rise in mental health challenges among adolescents, including increased rates of depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicide.
Montana (28.70 per 100,000) and Alaska (27.63 per 100,000) report the highest age-adjusted suicide rates. These states often face challenges like isolation, limited access to mental health care, and higher rates of firearm ownership.
Wyoming follows closely with 25.58 per 100,000.
District of Columbia has the lowest rate at 6.05 per 100,000, followed by New Jersey (7.65 per 100,000) and Massachusetts (8.28 per 100,000). These areas may benefit from greater urbanization and better access to healthcare services.
States with larger populations, such as California (4,312 deaths), Texas (4,368 deaths), and Florida (3,446 deaths), have the highest number of total deaths despite lower age-adjusted rates.
Mountain and rural states like Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho show significantly higher suicide rates, likely due to a combination of social, economic, and environmental factors.
Urbanized and coastal states, including New York and California, exhibit lower rates, potentially due to better resources for mental health care.
4 Key Causes of Rising Suicide Rates
Trauma and life events like loss and humiliation cause nearly 50% of major depression cases, Matthew Gray, “US Suicide Rates Reach Record Highs in 2024 – A Statistical Analysis,” February 28, 2025 .
1. Trauma
According to Victoria M E Bridgland, an accumulation of chronic stress and trauma, exacerbated by events like the COVID-19 pandemic, shootings, wars, and racial trauma, has significantly contributed to rising mental health challenges, including depression and suicide.
Research suggests that trauma and life events like loss, separation, and humiliation account for nearly 50% of major depression cases.
2. Effects of COVID-19
Suicide rates often rise after crises as individuals adjust to long-term effects, My Forever Son, Understanding Suicide Myths: Facts and Insights
Rhonda Schwindt, DNP, highlights that the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic may be linked to increased suicide rates. This includes heightened mental health symptoms, disrupted social connections, and the ongoing study of long COVID’s role in suicidal ideation.
3. A Broken Health Care System
The mental health system, often underfunded and unsupported, struggles to address the multifaceted roots of suicide, according to Narda Katherine Rátiva Hernández. Suicide stems from broader societal issues that go beyond healthcare solutions, highlighting the need for systemic social changes.
4. Increased Loneliness
Loneliness, worsened by the pandemic, remains a major mental health issue, Matthew Gray, “US Suicide Rates Reach Record Highs in 2024 – A Statistical Analysis,” February 28, 2025 .
Social isolation and loneliness, particularly among senior males, are major risk factors for depression and suicide. Experts like Dr. Victoria M. E. Bridgland emphasize the importance of promoting community engagement to foster a sense of connection. Loneliness, now more openly discussed, remains a significant mental health challenge, amplified by the pandemic’s aftermath.
Methodology
We compiled data from credible sources such as the CDC, AFSP, and U.S. News, along with suicide statistics and trends from national health surveys and academic studies.
The analysis spans historical trends from 2000 to 2025, using finalized data where available and provisional estimates for recent years.
Suicide rates were analyzed by demographic categories (age, gender, race/ethnicity) and geographic regions to identify disparities and trends.
Yearly data on suicide rates, methods, and demographic breakdowns were compared to highlight significant shifts and ongoing patterns.
Insights were drawn from mental health professionals’ commentary and linked to the broader societal and healthcare context.
Data was organized into charts, tables, and concise summaries to provide an accessible and comprehensive overview of the findings.
Matthew Gray, “US Suicide Rates Reach Record Highs in 2024 – A Statistical Analysis,” February 28, 2025 .
Personal Experience and Testimonial:
A Classmate’s Experience: “When our friend died by suicide, our school felt different. We learned the importance of checking in on each other and talking about our feelings, even when it’s hard.”
Journaling and Reflection Prompts
What are some myths about suicide that you once believed? How has your understanding changed?
What does breaking the stigma around mental health mean to you personally?
A somber portrayal of emotional distress, highlighting the importance of understanding mental health issues, My Forever Son, Breaking the Stigma: Facts About Suicide and Compassion
Essential Information from the World Health Organization
The excerpt below can be read in its entirety at Suicide Fact Sheet from the World Health Organization. Suicide, an increasingly critical global health issue, affects individuals across all demographics and regions. It is a significant concern, contributing to a rising number of deaths annually, and often results from untreated mental health conditions, social isolation, and the pressures of modern life.
Understanding suicide’s complexities is crucial to developing effective prevention strategies. For comprehensive information, the factsheet offers vital insights, highlighting statistics and interventions that can help reduce the stigma associated with mental health challenges. (March 25, 2025, World Health Organization.)
Suicide Fact Sheet from the World Health Organization
Overview
Every year 727 000 people take their own life and there are many more people who make suicide attempts. Every suicide is a tragedy that affects families, communities and entire countries and has long-lasting effects on the people left behind. Suicide occurs throughout the lifespan and was the third leading cause of death among 15–29-year-olds globally in 2021.
Suicide does not just occur in high-income countries but is a global phenomenon in all regions of the world. In fact, close to three quarters (73%) of global suicides occurred in low- and middle-income countries in 2021.
Suicide is a serious public health problem that requires a public health response. . . .
Who is at risk?
The link between suicide and mental disorders (in particular, depression and alcohol use disorders) and a previous suicide attempt is well established in high-income countries. However, many suicides happen impulsively in moments of crisis with a breakdown in the ability to deal with life stresses, such as financial problems, relationship disputes, or chronic pain and illness.
In addition, experiencing conflict, disaster, violence, abuse or loss and a sense of isolation are strongly associated with suicidal behaviour. Suicide rates are also high among vulnerable groups who experience discrimination, such as refugees and migrants; indigenous peoples; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex (LGBTI) persons; and prisoners.
Prevention and control
There are several measures that can be taken at population, sub-population and individual levels to prevent suicide and self-harm. LIVE LIFE, WHO’s initiative for suicide prevention, recommends the following key effective evidence-based interventions:
limit access to the means of suicide (e.g. pesticides, firearms, certain medications);
interact with the media for responsible reporting of suicide;
foster socio-emotional life skills in adolescents; and
early identify, assess, manage and follow up anyone who is affected by suicidal behaviours.
These need to go hand-in-hand with the following foundational pillars: situation analysis, multi-sectoral collaboration, awareness raising, capacity building, financing, surveillance and monitoring and evaluation.
Suicide prevention efforts require coordination and collaboration among multiple sectors of society, including the health sector and other sectors such as education, labour, agriculture, business, justice, law, defence, politics and the media. These efforts must be comprehensive and integrated given the multifaceted nature of suicide.
Challenges and obstacles
Stigma and taboo
Stigma, particularly surrounding mental disorders and suicide, means many people thinking of taking their own life or who have attempted suicide are not seeking help and are therefore not getting the help they need. The prevention of suicide has not been adequately addressed due to a lack of awareness of suicide as a major public health problem and the taboo in many societies to openly discuss it. To date, only a few countries have included suicide prevention among their health priorities and only 38 countries report having a national suicide prevention strategy.
Raising community awareness and breaking down the taboo is important for countries to make progress in preventing suicide.
What are some myths about suicide that you once believed? How has your understanding changed?
Reflect on a time you noticed someone struggling. What signs did you see? How did you respond?
Write about a moment when you felt hope during a difficult time.
How can you support someone in your life who may be experiencing emotional pain?
What does breaking the stigma around mental health mean to you personally?
A reflective moment: A young man contemplates his thoughts in a social setting, emphasizing the importance of discussing mental health and suicide awareness, My Forever Son, Breaking the Stigma: Facts about Suicide and Compassion
The Complex Reality of Suicide
Understanding Suicide: Common Misconceptions and Important Facts
Suicide is a complex and often misunderstood topic. Many misconceptions persist, which can prevent people from seeking help or offering support to those in need. This section aims to clarify some common myths about suicide by providing accurate information and encouraging understanding and compassion.
Not Everyone with Suicidal Thoughts Wants to Die
It is a common belief that having suicidal thoughts means someone truly wants to end their life. However, the reality is much more complicated. People experiencing suicidal thoughts often feel conflicted, having mixed emotions about living and dying. The desire to die is not always present; in many cases, individuals simply cannot imagine continuing to live with their current level of emotional pain. For many, their primary wish is for the emotional suffering to end, not necessarily life itself.
Testimonial from a Survivor: “When I was at my lowest, I didn’t want to die—I just wanted the pain to stop. Having someone listen without judgment gave me hope and helped me seek help.”
Suicidal Thoughts or Behaviors Are Not a Personal Failure
Another misconception is that struggling with suicidal thoughts is a sign of personal weakness or failure. This is not true. The underlying reasons for feeling suicidal are often complex and rooted in a variety of factors, such as mental health challenges, significant losses, major life changes, or overwhelming circumstances. Experiencing these thoughts does not make someone a bad person or a failure.
Warning Signs Are Often Present
Some believe that suicide happens without warning, but this is rarely the case. In most situations, there are warning signs in the weeks or months leading up to a suicide attempt. These signs can include withdrawing from friends and family, talking about suicide, or other notable changes in behavior. Recognizing these warning signs can help in providing timely support and intervention.
Recovery Is Possible
When a person is struggling with suicidal thoughts or behaviors, it may feel as though things will never improve. However, it is important to know that recovery is possible. With support and appropriate help, individuals can move past these thoughts and find hope for the future.
Suicide Can Affect Anyone
Suicide does not discriminate and can affect anyone, regardless of their background or personal circumstances. While certain groups, such as young men, LGBTI+ young people, or individuals with a history of mental illness, may be at higher risk, suicide is an issue that can impact people from all walks of life.
Talking About Suicide Helps, Not Harms
A common fear is that discussing suicide with someone who is struggling will make the situation worse or increase the likelihood of suicide. In reality, talking openly about suicide is one of the most helpful actions you can take. It offers the person a chance to express their feelings and can be a critical step toward connecting them with the support they need.
Key Points
Suicidal thoughts do not always indicate a desire to die. Individuals may experience complex emotions and often seek relief from emotional pain rather than an end to life itself.
Experiencing suicidal thoughts is not a personal failure. Such thoughts can arise from various underlying causes, including mental health challenges, loss, or overwhelming life events.
Warning signs are frequently present. Most individuals exhibit behavioral changes or verbal cues in the weeks or months preceding a suicide attempt, such as social withdrawal or discussing suicide.
Recovery is possible. With appropriate support and intervention, individuals can overcome suicidal thoughts and regain hope.
Suicide can affect anyone. While certain groups may be at higher risk, suicide transcends demographic boundaries and can impact any individual or family.
Open dialogue about suicide is beneficial. Discussing suicide does not increase risk; rather, it provides an opportunity for support and connection.
Journaling and Reflection Prompts
Reflect on a time you noticed someone struggling. What signs did you see? How did you respond?
How can you support someone in your life who may be experiencing emotional pain?
Breaking Stigma and Misconceptions
Debunking Suicide Myths: Insights and Facts’ core message is to demystify suicide, challenge harmful stereotypes, and promote understanding. By clarifying that talking about suicide is helpful and that anyone can be affected, it empowers readers to act compassionately and without judgment. This approach is essential for dismantling the barriers that prevent individuals from seeking help or offering support.
Expanded Warning Signs for Educators and Families
Recognizing warning signs is crucial for early intervention. While each individual’s experience is unique, the following signs may indicate someone is struggling:
Behavioral Warning Signs:
Withdrawal from friends, family, or previously enjoyed activities
Noticeable changes in academic performance or attendance
Giving away prized possessions or making arrangements for the future
Sudden changes in mood—especially from sadness to calmness or happiness
Increased use of alcohol or drugs
Risk-taking behaviors or disregard for safety
Verbal Warning Signs:
Talking or writing about death, dying, or suicide
Expressing feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, or being a burden
Statements such as “I wish I weren’t here,” “No one would miss me,” or “Things will never get better”
Situational Warning Signs:
Recent loss (death, breakup, job loss)
Major life transitions or traumatic events
Bullying, harassment, or social isolation
For Educators: Be attentive to students who show sudden disengagement, declining grades, or social withdrawal. Foster a classroom environment where mental health is openly discussed and support resources are visible and accessible.
For Families: Maintain open lines of communication. Notice changes in routines, interests, or relationships. Encourage honest conversations and seek professional help if warning signs persist.
Personal Stories and Testimonials
Testimonial from a Parent: “After losing my son to suicide, I realized how important it is to talk openly about mental health. Looking back, I noticed subtle changes—he became withdrawn and stopped sharing his thoughts with us. I wish I had known these were warning signs and felt empowered to ask direct questions.”
Testimonial from an Educator: “One of my students began missing classes and seemed disengaged. After a gentle conversation, I learned they were struggling with overwhelming feelings. Connecting them with the school counselor made a difference. Early intervention matters.”
Actionable Resources
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, consider these steps:
Reach out to a trusted adult, counselor, or mental health professional.
Call or text a suicide prevention helpline (e.g., 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the U.S.).
Visit support websites and blogs for guidance and community.
Featured Resource: https://myforeverson.com This blog offers compassionate support, resources, and community for parents and families grieving the loss of a child to suicide. It includes personal reflections, coping strategies, and links to further help.
Recognizing warning signs is essential for early intervention and support. Key indicators include:
Withdrawal from social, academic, or family activities
Sudden changes in mood, behavior, or academic performance
Giving away possessions or making final arrangements
Talking or writing about death, hopelessness, or being a burden
Increased risk-taking or substance use
Recent loss, trauma, or major life transitions
From a Survivor: “When I was struggling, I didn’t want to die—I wanted the pain to end. Having someone listen without judgment gave me hope and helped me seek help.”
For Educators:
Integrate mental health awareness into curricula and staff training.
Create safe spaces for students to share concerns.
Establish clear protocols for referring students to counseling services.
For Families:
Foster open, nonjudgmental communication at home.
Monitor changes in behavior and routines.
Seek professional help when warning signs are present.
Personal Stories and Testimonials
From an Educator: “One student’s sudden disengagement was a red flag. By reaching out and listening, I connected them to support services. Early intervention can save lives.”
Actionable Resources
Immediate Steps:
Reach out to a trusted adult, counselor, or mental health professional.
Call or text a suicide prevention helpline (e.g., 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).
Visit support websites and blogs for guidance and community.
Featured Resource: https://myforeverson.com This blog offers compassionate support, resources, and community for parents and families grieving the loss of a child to suicide. It includes personal reflections, coping strategies, and links to further help.
A young man reflects deeply while working on his laptop, symbolizing the importance of mental engagement in conversations about suicide prevention, My Forever Son, Breaking the Stigma: Facts about Suicide and Compassion
“6 Facts About Suicide”
6 Facts about Suicide
1. Not everyone with suicidal thoughts or behaviours wants to die
If someone is experiencing suicidal thoughts, it does not necessarily mean that they want to die – it is usually a lot more complicated than that. Often people will have mixed feelings about living and dying, and although they might not want to die, they cannot continue living the way they are now, and many just want the emotional pain that they are struggling to cope with to end.
2. Suicidal thoughts or behaviours are not a personal failure
Experiencing suicidal thoughts does not mean that you have failed or that you are a bad person. The reasons why a person is feeling suicidal can be complicated, and there’s often an underlying cause or causes that are making them feel this way. This could be a mental health difficulty, a loss, a major life event, or something that is happening in their life that has left them feeling overwhelmed.
3. There are often warning signs that a person is feeling suicidal
A common misunderstanding is that suicide can happen without any warning. Most of the time, there are many warning signs that a person is planning suicide in the weeks or months leading up to their attempt. This can include withdrawing from friends and family or talking about suicide.
4. Recovery is possible after suicidal thoughts/behaviours
When someone is experiencing suicidal thoughts, it can be hard to imagine that there will ever be a time when they won’t feel that way, but it is important to know that recovery is possible.
5. Anyone can be affected by suicide
Suicide can affect anyone, from any walk of life. Although there are some groups who are more at risk of suicide, such as young men, LGBTI+ young people, or those with a history of mental illness, it is something that can happen to anyone.
6. Talking about suicide does not make it more likely to happen
Some people may be scared that talking about suicide with someone who is experiencing suicidal thoughts will make it more likely to happen. In fact, talking about it with them is one of the best things you can do to support them. It gives them the opportunity to talk about how they feel, and can help them to get the support they need.
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Essential Insights: The Stigma of Suicide
Debunking myths about suicide helps encourage compassion and understanding
Sometimes people who die by suicide get branded as selfish, depressed or attention-seeking. Such myths contribute to the stigma that can prevent those who are suicidal from seeking the help they need and falsify understanding of the motivations behind suicide
Below, experts dispel common myths about suicide, highlighting the importance of understanding the underlying factors that contribute to suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Many people believe that talking about suicide can plant the idea in someone’s mind, but research shows that open conversations can actually save lives.
Additionally, there is a misconception that people who talk about suicide are just seeking attention; in reality, these individuals are often in deep emotional pain and need support. By educating ourselves on these myths, we can foster a more compassionate and proactive approach to mental health, ensuring that those in distress feel heard and valued in their struggles.
Myth: Everyone who attempts suicide has a mental health condition
One myth is “that only certain people experience suicidal thoughts, people with mental health conditions,” said clinical psychologist Michael Roeske, senior director of the Newport Healthcare Center for Research and Innovation.
“A lot of people don’t necessarily fit criteria for a mental health disorder, but in very stressful situations, they lose an important job, they find out about an infidelity with a long-term marital partner, and they go, ‘Oh, my gosh. I don’t know how I’m going to go forward living.’”
Other factors can include life stressors such as criminal or legal matters, persecution, eviction or home loss, grief, a devastating or debilitating illness, trauma, or other crises, according to NAMI.
Myth: People who attempt suicide are selfish
“There’s a derogatory connotation that comes with the word selfish, as if somebody is making this decision typically for a pleasurable reason,” Roeske said. “Maybe nearsighted is a better way of saying that their focus becomes really limited down to what’s immediately in front of them. And they’re not able to see the larger context of the history of their life, the relationships and the dimensionality of things.”
People who attempt or die by suicide more often want to end their struggles or see themselves as a burden on loved ones, according to Roeske.
“It’s not a selfish piece in the sense of someone making a decision for their own benefit,” he added. “It’s a decision based on the idea that ‘I don’t know how to get out of this moment. I feel so overwhelmed. I feel so stressed. I feel so sad that this opportunity to escape is what I need, and I don’t feel I have any other choice.’”
Myth: People who threaten suicide are seeking attention
Some people think that those who express suicidal thoughts are attention seekers, or that they are aware of the sympathy they might engender but don’t intend to die.
“Regardless of how you respond to it,” Roeske said, “you still have to take it seriously that within there is a kernel of truth – that this person really feels this (and) is struggling this much.”
“That’s a pretty big philosophical question: Where does free will come in? Are we the consequence of our experiences?” Roeske said. The mindset of a person who is suicidal is similar to that of someone with substance abuse disorder and chronic relapses, he said.
“They are not willfully choosing substances over their children. They are not making the decision to harm their physical health or to be a poor employee or a poor citizen or engage in illegal behavior,” Roeske said. Because of neurochemical changes, such persons have a limited capacity for full choice in terms of what they think is possible and what they can do.
There is some volition in suicide, but suicidal thoughts can be so overwhelming that they crowd out everything else, Roeske said.
Myth: Talking about it will lead to or encourage suicide
One myth “is the fear that if you talk about suicide, it’s going to encourage it, and so people shy away from it,” Roeske said. Asking someone about warning signs you have noticed might feel awkward, but “it actually does not lead to increased completed suicides,” he added.
Having honest conversations about suicide can help reduce the stigma and empower people to seek help, rethink their options and share their stories with others, according to NAMI.
Myth: Improved mood means the risk of suicide is gone
If someone attempts suicide but then seems to be doing better in the days or months afterward, you might think that their risk is gone. But the reality might be the opposite – the three months following an attempt is when someone is most at risk of dying by suicide, according to the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health’s Office of Suicide Prevention.
“The apparent lifting of the problems could mean the person has made a firm decision to die by suicide and feels better because of this decision,” it says.
The biggest indicator of risk for subsequent attempts is past suicide attempts or having had family members or friends who attempted suicide, Roeske said.
How loved ones and experts respond to a person’s suicide attempt might provide temporary relief or set in motion support efforts, he added. But what initially drove the person to attempt suicide might still be at play.
Additionally, there is sometimes “an escalation in the lethality of means,” Roeske said.
Myth: You can’t stop someone from attempting suicide
Sometimes people think asking someone about suicide is pointless because they’ll do it anyway, said Justin Baker, clinical director of the Suicide and Trauma Reduction Initiative for Veterans at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
But Baker added that some research has found people can perceive interrupted or survived attempts as a “new lease on life.”
A similar myth is “once an individual is suicidal, he or she will always remain suicidal,” according to NAMI’s website.
But there are factors that can influence the level or probability of suicide risk, Baker said. A history of self-injurious behavior and genetic makeup are fixed factors, whereas dynamic factors change constantly because they are situation-specific, NAMI says.
Suicide “is often an attempt to control deep, painful emotions and thoughts,” the NAMI site says. “Once these thoughts dissipate, so will the suicidal ideation. While suicidal thoughts can return, they are not permanent. An individual with suicidal thoughts and attempts can live a long, successful life.”
If someone you care about is struggling, it’s well worth the effort to familiarize yourself with the signs your loved one is at risk for suicide.
“People typically do what they want to do,” Roeske acknowledged.
“But there are things that we can do along the way that help mitigate some of the issues that are happening for them,” he said. “Having that sense of various signs of suicide potential is helpful.”
Write about a moment when you felt hope during a difficult time.
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Common Misconceptions About Suicide: Insights from the National Library of Medicine
Myths About Suicide
Myth 1: Talking about suicide increases the chance a person will act on it.
Fact:Talking about suicide may reduce, rather than increase, suicidal ideation. It improves mental health-related outcomes and the likelihood that the person will seek treatment. Opening this conversation helps people find an alternative view of their existing circumstances.
Myth 2: People who talk about suicide are just seeking attention.
Fact:People who die from suicide have often told someone about not wanting to live anymore or that they don’t see the future. It’s always important to take it seriously when somebody talks about feeling suicidal.
It’s important to be kind and sensitive and ask direct questions, including:
“Are you thinking about hurting yourself?”
“Are you thinking about suicide?”
“Do you have access to weapons or other objects to harm yourself?”
Myth 3: Suicide can’t be prevented.
Fact:Suicide is preventable but unpredictable. Most people who contemplate suicide often experience intense emotional pain, hopelessness and have a negative view of life or their future. Suicide is a product of genes, mental health illnesses and environmental risk factors. Interventions targeted to treat psychiatric and substance-use illnesses can save lives.
Myth 4: People who take their own lives are selfish, cowardly or weak.
Fact:People don’t die of suicide by choice. Often, people who die of suicide experience significant emotional pain and find it difficult to consider different views or see a way out of their situation. Even though the reasons behind suicide are quite complex, suicide is commonly associated with psychiatric illnesses, such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and substance use.
Myth 5: Teenagers and college students are the most at risk for suicide.
Fact:The suicide rate for this age group is below the national average. The age groups with the highest suicide rate in the U.S. are women 45–64 and men 75 and older. Although certain groups may be at higher risk, suicide is a problem among all ages and groups.
Myth 6: Barriers on bridges, safe firearm storage and other actions that reduce access to lethal methods of suicide don’t work.
Fact:Limiting access to lethal means of harm, such as firearms, is one of the most straightforward strategies to decrease the chances of suicide. Many suicide attempts are a result of impulsive decisions. Separating someone from a lethal means could provide a person with some time to think before harming themselves.
Myth 7: Suicide always occurs without warning.
Fact:There are almost always warning signs before a suicide attempt.
Here are a few common signs:
Being preoccupied with death, dying or violence.
Changing regular routine, including eating or sleeping patterns.
Developing personality changes or being severely anxious or agitated, particularly when experiencing some of the warning signs listed above.
Doing risky or self-destructive things, such as using drugs or driving recklessly.
Feeling trapped or hopeless about a situation.
Getting the means to take your own life, such as buying a gun or stockpiling pills.
Giving away belongings or getting affairs in order when there is no other logical explanation for doing this.
Having mood swings, such as being emotionally high one day and deeply discouraged the next.
Increasing use of alcohol or drugs.
Saying goodbye to people as if they won’t be seen again.
Talking about suicide — making statements such as, “I’m going to kill myself,” “I wish I were dead” or “I wish I hadn’t been born.”
Withdrawing from social contact and wanting to be left alone.
Myth 8: Talk therapy and medications don’t work.
Fact:Treatment can and does work. One of the best ways to prevent suicide is by getting treatment for mental illnesses, such as depression, bipolar illness or substance abuse, and learning ways to cope with problems. Finding the best treatment can take some time, but the proper treatment can significantly reduce the risk of suicide.
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Debunking Myths Surrounding Suicide
Myth: Suicide only affects individuals with a mental health condition.
Fact: Many individuals with mental illness are not affected by suicidal thoughts and not all people who attempt or die by suicide have mental illness. Relationship problems and other life stressors such as criminal/legal matters, persecution, eviction/loss of home, death of a loved one, a devastating or debilitating illness, trauma, sexual abuse, rejection, and recent or impending crises are also associated with suicidal thoughts and attempts.
Myth: Once an individual is suicidal, he or she will always remain suicidal.
Fact: Active suicidal ideation is often short-term and situation-specific. Studies have shown that approximately 54% of individuals who have died by suicide did not have a diagnosable mental health disorder. And for those with mental illness, the proper treatment can help to reduce symptoms.
The act of suicide is often an attempt to control deep, painful emotions and thoughts an individual is experiencing. Once these thoughts dissipate, so will the suicidal ideation. While suicidal thoughts can return, they are not permanent. An individual with suicidal thoughts and attempts can live a long, successful life.
Myth: Most suicides happen suddenly without warning.
Fact: Warning signs—verbally or behaviorally—precede most suicides. Therefore, it’s important to learn and understand the warnings signs associated with suicide. Many individuals who are suicidal may only show warning signs to those closest to them. These loved ones may not recognize what’s going on, which is how it may seem like the suicide was sudden or without warning.
Myth: People who die by suicide are selfish and take the easy way out.
Fact: Typically, people do not die by suicide because they do not want to live—people die by suicide because they want to end their suffering. These individuals are suffering so deeply that they feel helpless and hopeless. Individuals who experience suicidal ideations do not do so by choice. They are not simply, “thinking of themselves,” but rather they are going through a very serious mental health symptom due to either mental illness or a difficult life situation.
Myth: Talking about suicide will lead to and encourage suicide.
Fact: There is a widespread stigma associated with suicide and as a result, many people are afraid to speak about it. Talking about suicide not only reduces the stigma, but also allows individuals to seek help, rethink their opinions and share their story with others. We all need to talk more about suicide.
Debunking these common myths about suicide can hopefully allow individuals to look at suicide from a different angle—one of understanding and compassion for an individual who is internally struggling. Maybe they are struggling with a mental illness or maybe they are under extreme pressure and do not have healthy coping skills or a strong support system.
As a society, we should not be afraid to speak up about suicide, to speak up about mental illness or to seek out treatment for an individual who is in need. Eliminating the stigma starts by understanding why suicide occurs and advocating for mental health awareness within our communities. There are suicide hotlines, mental health support groups, online community resources and many mental health professionals who can help any individual who is struggling with unhealthy thoughts and emotions.
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Insights and Facts About Suicide: “Risk Factors, Protective Factors, and Warning Signs”
What leads to suicide?
There’s no single cause for suicide.Suicide most often occurs when stressors and health issues converge to create an experience of hopelessness and despair.Depression is the most common condition associated with suicide, and it is often undiagnosed or untreated.
Conditions like depression, anxiety, and substance problems, especially when unaddressed, increase risk for suicide. Yet it’s important to note that most people who actively manage their mental health conditions go on to engage in life.
Risk factors
Risk factors are characteristics or conditions that increase the chance that a person may try to take their life.
Health
Mental health conditions
Depression
Substance use problems
Bipolar disorder
Schizophrenia
Personality traits of aggression, mood changes and poor relationships
Conduct disorder
Anxiety disorders
Serious physical health conditions including pain
Traumatic brain injury
Environmental
Access to lethal means including firearms and drugs
Prolonged stress, such as harassment, bullying, relationship problems or unemployment
Stressful life events, like rejection, divorce, financial crisis, other life transitions or loss
Exposure to another person’s suicide, or to graphic or sensationalized accounts of suicide
Discrimination
Historical
Previous suicide attempts
Family history of suicide
Childhood abuse, neglect or trauma
Generational trauma
Protective Factors
Access to mental health care, and being proactive about mental health
Feeling connected to family and community support
Problem-solving and coping skills
Limited access to lethal means
Cultural and religious beliefs that encourage connecting and help-seeking, discourage suicidal behavior, or create a strong sense of purpose or self-esteem
Warning signs
Something to look out for when concerned that a person may be suicidal is a change in behavior or the presence of entirely new behaviors. This is of sharpest concern if the new or changed behavior is related to a painful event, loss, or change. Most people who take their lives exhibit one or more warning signs, either through what they say or what they do.
Talk
If a person talks about:
Killing themselves
Feeling hopeless
Having no reason to live
Being a burden to others
Feeling trapped
Unbearable pain
Behavior
Behaviors that may signal risk, especially if related to a painful event, loss or change:
Increased use of alcohol or drugs
Looking for a way to end their lives, such as searching online for methods
Withdrawing from activities
Isolating from family and friends
Sleeping too much or too little
Visiting or calling people to say goodbye
Giving away prized possessions
Aggression
Fatigue
Mood
People who are considering suicide often display one or more of the following moods:
Depression
Anxiety
Loss of interest
Irritability
Humiliation/Shame
Agitation/Anger
Relief/Sudden Improvement
What to do if you are concerned
If you are concerned about someone in your life, learn more about the ways you can get help and discover tools you can use today to have a #RealConvo[Talk Away the Dark] about mental health.
A Clergy’s Compassion: “As a faith leader, I speak out to remind our community that suicide is not a moral failing. Compassion, not judgment, is what saves lives. We must create safe spaces for honest conversations about pain and hope.”
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Understanding Suicide: Who Is At Risk of Suicide?
Factors that Increase Risk of Suicide: Essential Insights
Suicidal thoughts or feelings don’t arrive out of the blue
Suicidal thoughts or feelings don’t usually arrive out of the blue. Many factors come together to increase someone’s risk. It is rare that one event makes someone’s life so unbearable that suicide seems the only option. However, it is important to remember that you may not know the sources of stress that could contribute to the likelihood of suicide.
Who is at risk of suicide?
There are some differences in rates of suicide among men and women, but suicide does happen to people of all genders including men, women, and non binary people.
Men
Most deaths by suicide happen in men aged 20-64. In Ireland, statistics suggest that young men are most at risk.
Women
Suicide in women is most common during middle age. However, in recent years, the rate of suicide has been increasing in young women aged 15-19.
How does mental health impact the likelihood of suicide?
Often, those who are at risk of suicide have also experienced a mental health difficulty. Remember that you may not always be aware if someone is experiencing a mental health difficulty.
Mental health difficulties
These can arise for any of us at any stage in our lives. Research has shown that people who are diagnosed with a mental health difficulty by a doctor are at a higher risk of suicide than those who have not. However, it is important to note that not all of those who have been diagnosed will experience suicidal thoughts. In the same way, not everyone who is suicidal will have a diagnosed mental health difficulty.
History of self-harm
This involves doing something that causes injury to the body. Self-harm is generally used to cope with, or ease, emotional distress. Over time, it may become less effective, and the emotional distress may increase. As this happens, thoughts of suicide may become more likely. Sometimes people who self-harm may accidentally end up taking their own life through their self-harming actions.
History of suicide attempts
Someone who has attempted suicide in the past has a higher risk of attempting again, especially in the days and weeks after an attempt. An attempted suicide may increase their sense of isolation, guilt and worthlessness. It is important to take all attempts or possible attempts seriously, and to get help and support for your loved one.
Recent or past events
Sometimes, a recent event can increase the likelihood of a person attempting suicide. However, a lot of time can pass between when these events happened and when an attempt took place.
Discharge from inpatient care or emergency department
The risk of suicide is high immediately after discharge from a psychiatric hospital or an emergency department if the person attended because of suicidal thoughts or behaviours. They may have a sense that they will be living with mental health difficulties for a long time, or they may believe they do not have the supports or inner resources to deal with their difficulties. They are at greater risk if they live alone or are returning to significant stresses that they feel they cannot change.
History of suicide in family or friends
This can increase someone’s risk as suicide can appear to be more of an option once it has been taken by others. The way in which a community responds to a death by suicide, for example through Facebook memorial pages, can sometimes glorify the death. This may make suicide seem appealing to someone who is vulnerable.
Young people in particular might feel that they will be more loved after their death than when alive. Communities that support grieving families, while at the same time showing the finality of death, can help prevent other deaths by suicide from happening.
Loss of employment
Unemployment can challenge someone in ways they haven’t been challenged before. The loss of a job can also mean that someone has lost the supports they previously relied on, such as a regular income, social contact, a reason for living, a sense of self-worth, and so on.
Experiencing a loss
Any kind of loss is linked with increased suicide risk. It can include bereavement, relationship breakdown, job loss or financial loss. The risk is greater if the person feels that, as a result of the loss, life will never be good again or they will never experience happiness again.
History of abuse
The emotional impact of past abuse can make someone more vulnerable to suicide. People who have experienced abuse can feel shame, depression and anxiety, and believe they are worthless. They may have poor family support and may be isolated. This can make it difficult to cope when times are tough.
Other factors
Alcohol or drug misuse
This is common among people who die by suicide. Drugs and alcohol can impact a person in a number of ways when they’re experiencing distress. Drug and alcohol misuse can lead to impulsive behaviours where someone might make decisions without considering what may happen afterwards. In addition, alcohol and certain other drugs are depressants that increase the likelihood of negative mental health effects and contribute to someone taking a more negative view of their life.
If someone is using alcohol or drugs to deal with their problems, this may prevent them from using less harmful coping strategies. Misuse of alcohol or drugs over a long time can lead to poor quality of life and can damage relationships, work and other areas of life.
Low levels of social contact
People who are isolated and withdrawn from others, or who don’t have a support network to draw on in times of difficulty, are more vulnerable to suicide than those who are well connected and have a strong sense of belonging.
Poverty
The difficulties associated with poverty can increase suicide risk. These include low levels of education, poor living conditions, social isolation, increased reliance on drugs and alcohol, and less access to services.
Inequality
Inequality can be experienced by someone in many different ways. Social inequality isn’t just about having less money. There are many factors that increase the risk of suicide, such as living in a disadvantaged area, debt, unemployment, and, if employed, the quality and type of employment.
Personal behaviour
It is possible that someone’s personal behaviour has greatly hurt or angered the people they love. This, along with blaming themselves for their behaviour, can add to someone’s distress, isolation, feeling of hopelessness, or feeling that they deserve to die.
Impulsivity
For some, taking their lives can be a spur-of-the-moment decision. This is more likely among young people who are struggling to cope with a major life event, such as the break up of a relationship.
A cozy setting with a red coffee cup and a small vase of flowers, inviting comfort and reflection, My Forever Son, Breaking the Stigma: Facts About Suicide and Compassion
Professional Resources
Online Directory for Coping with Grief, Trauma, and Distress
After A Suicide Resource Directory: Coping with Grief, Trauma, and Distress http://www.personalgriefcoach.net This online directory links people who are grieving after a suicide death to resources and information.
Alliance of Hope for Suicide Survivors http://www.allianceofhope.org This organization for survivors of suicide loss provides information sheets, a blog, and a community forum through which survivors can share with each other.
Friends for Survival http://www.friendsforsurvival.org This organization is for suicide loss survivors and professionals who work with them. It produces a monthly newsletter and runs the Suicide Loss Helpline (1-800-646-7322). It also published Pathways to Purpose and Hope, a guide to building a community-based suicide survivor support program.
HEARTBEAT: Grief Support Following Suicide http://heartbeatsurvivorsaftersuicide.org This organization has chapters providing support groups for survivors of suicide loss in Colorado and some other states. Its website provides information sheets for survivors and a leader’s guide on how to start a new chapter of HEARTBEAT.
Resources and Support Groups
Parents of Suicides and Friends & Families of Suicides (POS-FFOS) http://www.pos-ffos.com This website provides a public message board called Suicide Grief Support Forum, a listserv for parents, a separate listserv for others, and an online chat room for survivors of suicide loss.
Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) https://www.taps.org/suicide This organization provides resources and programs for people grieving the loss of a loved one who died while serving in the U.S. armed forces or as a result of their service. It has special resources and programs for suicide loss survivors.
United Survivors https://unitesurvivors.org/ This organization is a place where people who have experienced suicide loss, suicide attempts, and suicidal thoughts and feelings, and their friends and families, can connect to use their lived experience to advocate for policy, systems, and cultural change.
Professional Organizations
American Association of Suicidology suicidology.org • (202) 237-2280 Promotes public awareness, education and training for professionals, and sponsors an annual Healing After Suicide conference for suicide loss survivors. In addition to the conference, they offer a coping with suicide grief handbook by Jeffrey Jackson. This booklet is also available in Spanish.
The Compassionate Friends compassionatefriends.org • (877) 969-0010 Offers resources for families after the death of a child. They sponsor support groups, newsletters and online support groups throughout the country, as well as an annual national conference for bereaved families.
The Dougy Center The National Center for Grieving Children & Families dougy.org • (503) 775-5683 Publishes extensive resources for helping children and teens who are grieving a death including death by suicide. Resources include the “Children, Teens and Suicide Loss” booklet created in partnership with AFSP. This booklet is also available in Spanish.
Link’s National Resource Center for Suicide Prevention and Aftercare thelink.org/nrc-for-suicide-prevention-aftercar • 404-256-2919 Dedicated to reaching out to those whose lives have been impacted by suicide and connecting them to available resources.
Tragedy Assistance Programs for Survivors (TAPS) taps.org/suicide • (800) 959-TAPS (8277) Provides comfort, care and resources to all those grieving the death of a military loved one through a national peer support network and connection to grief resources, all at no cost to surviving families and loved ones.
LOSS losscs.org Offers support groups, remembrance events, companioning, suicide postvention and prevention education, and training to other communities interested in developing or enhancing their suicide postvention and prevention efforts.
Online resources
Alliance of Hope allianceofhope.org Provides a 24/7 online forum for suicide loss survivors.
Help Guide helpguide.org Provides resources and tips for how to navigate the loss of someone to suicide.
Parents of Suicides (POS) – Friends and Families of Suicides (FFOS) pos-ffos.com An internet community to connect parents, friends, and family that have lost someone to suicide.
SAVE: Suicide Awareness Voices of Education save.org/programs/suicide-loss-support • (952) 946-7998 Hosts resources for suicide loss survivor including a support group database, newsletter, survivor conference and the Named Memorial Program, which offers a special way to honor your loved one.
Siblings Survivors of Suicide Loss siblingsurvivors.com Provides resources and a platform to connect with others that have lost a sibling to suicide.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline 988lifeline.org Call or text 988 (press 1 for Veterans, 2 for Spanish, 3 for LGBTQ+ youth and young adults) or chat 988lifeline.org A 24-hour, toll-free suicide prevention service available to anyone in suicidal crisis. You will be routed to the closest possible crisis center in your area. With crisis centers across the country, their mission is to provide immediate assistance to anyone seeking mental health services. Call for yourself, or someone you care about. Your call is free and confidential.
Crisis Text Line crisistextline.org Text TALK to 741-741 for English Text AYUDA to 741-741 for Spanish Provides free, text-based mental health support and crisis intervention by empowering a community of trained volunteers to support people in their moments of need, 24/7.
Beth Brown, Author
Beth Brown, author and educator, sharing her journey of healing through poetry after the loss of her son
About the Author
Beth Brown is a writer, educator, and bereaved mother who shares her journey of healing after losing her only son, Dylan, to suicide. Through poetry, essays, and her blog My Forever Son, Beth offers comfort and hope to others navigating grief, honoring the enduring bond between parent and child and celebrating the small joys that illuminate the path toward healing.
Meet the Author: Writing Through the Abyss
byBeth Brown
There are places that cannot be mapped, only entered—terrains of loss where language falters and the heart, stripped of its certainties, must learn to speak again. I am Beth Brown, a mother whose son, Dylan, died by suicide at twenty. My life, once measured by the ordinary rhythms of teaching literature and nurturing a child, was pierced in two: before and after. In the aftermath, I found myself wandering a wilderness where time bent, memory ached, and the world’s colors dimmed to the hush of grief.
I did not choose to become a chronicler of sorrow, but grief, relentless and unbidden, pressed its ink into my hands. I wrote because I could not bear the silence. I wrote because the ache demanded witness. In poetry, I found a way to hold both the weight of absence and the persistence of love—a language for the unspeakable, a vessel for memory, a place where my son’s name could still be spoken.
He left too soon, Lifting life from June, Casting torrents of rain. — “He Left Too Soon”
There are nights when the world tilts, and I am returned to the moment of loss, the fracture that remade me. Yet even in the deepest dark, I have learned to listen for the faint music of hope, the pulse of love that endures beyond death.
Beat still my heart, Beat still my mind, Weary though thou art, Carry his love along with thine, Though heavy on thy shoulders Crost fields throughout all time. — “Beat Still My Heart”
My poems are not answers. They are offerings—fragments of a life lived in the shadow of absence, pieced together with longing and the fierce, unyielding devotion of a mother’s heart. They are the record of a journey through the labyrinth of grief, where each turn reveals both the ache of what is lost and the quiet radiance of what remains.
My child sleeps in a cradle of stars, Gently rocked by the moon Lullabies in his heart, Heavens in galaxies swirl round to the sound Of a mother and child’s love beating on.
Meteor showers, on the darkest of nights, Bring comfort and joy to my child’s delight, Aurora Borealis tints sky blue and green, Where my child remembers his mother in dreams.
There are questions that haunt the bereaved: Could I have known? Could I have saved you? The mind circles these unanswerable riddles, but the heart, battered and tender, learns to rest in the mystery.
I’d have reached right in to your dark night’s soul— I would have held on, I would have clutched you, I would have never let you go But you told me “Mom I love you” Oh my child, if I’d only known. — “Once Upon a Blue-Sky Moon”
In the landscape of loss, I have discovered that love is not diminished by death. It is transformed—becoming both ache and solace, shadow and light, the filament that binds the living to the lost.
Body, mind, soul, rough and ragged, Weeping tears falling still throughout time, Carrying weight of mourning and grieving Falling broken when thou wert mine. — “Beat Still My Heart”
I write for those who walk this wilderness with me—for the mothers and fathers, siblings and friends, whose lives have been marked by the unthinkable. My hope is that in these poems, you will find not only the echo of your own sorrow, but also the quiet assurance that you are not alone.
Starlight for a mobile twinkling ‘ere so bright, To remember his mother that darkest of nights, When slipped he from her grasp and fell through this earth, Tumbling still planets, sun, folding time in rebirth. — “Falling Stars in a Moonless Sky”
That we might understand we cannot separate mental illness from physical illness and that try as we might, we cannot see inside another’s pain.
If you have come here searching for words to companion your grief, I welcome you. My poetry is not a map, but a lantern—casting light on the path we walk, together and alone, toward a horizon where love, undiminished, endures.
But boughs break and love falls through the cracks in the earth, And the centre can’t hold when orbits, slung far, break their girth, Gravitational interference, passing stars in the night, Jetting orbs, falling stars in a moonless sky. — “Falling Stars in a Moonless Sky”
Grief is wild—untamed, unending, and full of shadows. Yet within its depths, I have found moments of light: a memory, a poem, the gentle rustle of leaves, the warmth of a cup of tea. My words are both ache and love, a testament that even in the deepest sorrow, we can find meaning, connection, and—sometimes—hope. Through poetry, I reach for my son and for all who walk this path. If you find yourself here, know that you are not alone, and that love—like poetry—endures.
What Happened? The Backstory to My Forever Son: A Mother’s Grief
I started this blog, My Forever Son: Healing After Losing a Child to Suicide in 2015, three years into my journey of grief. You can read more about what happened here: The Backstory to My Forever Son: A Mother’s Grief recounts the author’s harrowing experience of losing her son to suicide. Her story highlights her grief, guilt, and the healing power of writing, especially through works like the “If Earth Were Sky (And Sky Above)” poem: reflections on love and loss. The blog “My Forever Son” came about as a way for the author to work through this devastating grief that follows the loss of a child to suicide. My Forever Son blog serves as a platform for sharing experiences and finding healing and solace in community.
Find Hope Here: Poetic Reflections on Grief and Healing
Find Hope Here: Poetic Reflections on Grief and Healing offers a heartfelt collection of poems that deeply resonate with the profound sorrow of parents who have experienced the unimaginable pain of losing a child to suicide. These poignant verses navigate the intense emotions of this tragic loss, beautifully capturing the stages of grief while gently guiding readers towards hope and healing on their journey through grief.
The Magnolia Tree: A Symbol of Grief and Resilience
The Magnolia Tree: A Symbol of Grief and Resilience, explores the author’s journey of grief through the metaphor of a Magnolia tree’s cyclical seasons. The author uses photography to illustrate the parallels between nature’s cycles and the seasons of grief, finding hope and healing in writing, gardening, and nature’s resilience. The Magnolia tree’s resilience symbolizes renewal and the possibility of finding joy again despite profound heartbreak. After reflections on nature’s resilience, the author reflects on grief and healing (echoes of joy and shadows of loss) after losing her son to suicide.
Navigating Grief After Losing a Child to Suicide: Essential Resources
Navigating Grief After Losing a Child to Suicide: Essential Resources offers an extensive collection of resources aimed at helping parents understand the complexities of suicide to help with their profound grief. This invaluable guide not only provides insights but also connects parents with supportive communities, fostering a sense of belonging and emphasizing gentle pathways to hope and healing during such a heartbreaking time.
Navigating Guilt in Grief: A Parent’s Guide offers a gentle and understanding perspective on the complex emotions that emerge after the devastating loss of a loved one through suicide, particularly from the vantage point of parents.This guide thoughtfully addresses the overwhelming and often contradictory feelings of grief, guilt, and sorrow that can envelop parents navigating such profound heartache.
Healing After Losing a Child to Suicide: A Guide for Parents
Healing After Losing a Child to Suicide: A Guide for Parents gently supports parents navigating the profound sorrow of losing a child to suicide. This heartfelt article acknowledges the intense grief that such a tragedy brings and offers compassionate guidance on finding a way forward. The healing strategies shared emphasize self-care and the importance of seeking professional help, while inviting parents to connect with others who understand their pain.
Carrying Ache and Love: Healing Longterm Grief in Suicide Loss
I have shared my grief journey on this blog, My Forever Son, reflecting on those painful early years and sharing glimmers of hope along the way. Through sleepless nights and tears, I found that my deep love for my son sustains me through his absence.
Carrying both ache and love after losing my son to suicide has been the crux of my grief journey these past 12 years. I share insights into healing from deep grief in the article, Carrying Ache and Love: Healing Longterm Grief in Suicide Loss, where ache for his absence and love for my son walk together in my heart. Holding hands, one is never without the other, but ache and love have carried me—and carry me still.
When Love Isn’t Enough: “Ode to Suicide: That We Might Understand”
When Love Isn’t Enough: “Ode to Suicide: That We Might Understand,”explores the complexities of suicide and includes a compassionate treatise written by the author, “Ode to Suicide: That We Might Understand,” challenging the notion that it is a choice. The treatise, “Ode to Suicide: That We Might Understand,” emphasizes the inevitability of death, regardless of the cause, and the limitations of love in preventing it. The author of the treatise “Ode to Suicide: That We Might Understand” and this article, “When Love Isn’t Enough,” Beth Brown shares her personal journey of grief after losing her son to suicide, finding solace in writing and nature photography.
Meet Dylan, My Forever Son
A joyful moment captured of Dylan, radiating happiness while seated outdoors, My Forever Son, Twenty Years of Love: Dylan
Twenty Years of Love: Dylan
“Twenty Years of Love: Dylan” offers a poignant exploration of grief and loss, weaving together cherished memories and reflections on Dylan’s life. The emotional resonance of this piece is deeply felt, beautifully portraying both the love and sorrow that the author carries in their heart. The thoughtful inclusion of links to further readings about Dylan and resources for support is a compassionate touch that adds immense value to those who may be navigating similar journeys.
Walking Through Shadows: Surviving the Unthinkable Loss of a Child to Suicide
Walking through Shadows: Surviving the Unthinkable Loss of a Child to Suicideoffers a deeply moving and heartfelt narrative that illuminates the unimaginable pain of losing a child to suicide. The personal stories shared create a sincere and unfiltered glimpse into the heavy journey of grief and the gradual path toward healing. Through poignant reflections and a poetic exploration on grief, the author navigates the chaotic emotions that accompany such a catastrophic event, revealing both the struggles and the moments of unexpected solace that can emerge even in the darkest times.
I Want It All Back: Remembering Dylan, My Forever Son
I Want It All Back: Remembering Dylan, My Forever Son lovingly encapsulates the profound heartache and cherished memories tied to the author’s beloved son, Dylan. Through heartfelt imagery and poignant personal stories, it invites readers to share in an emotional journey that resonates deeply, fostering a compassionate understanding of loss and love.
I Want to Believe: Searching for Hope After Losing My Son to Suicide
I Want to Believe: Searching for Hope After Losing My Son to Suicide is a heartfelt collection of personal reflections and cherished memories that navigates the profound journey of grief and hope following the heartbreaking loss of a son to suicide. The rawness of the emotions is deeply felt, drawing readers into a shared space of empathy. Through vivid descriptions and nostalgic elements, the work evokes a sense of connection and understanding, while the stunning images inspire hope and healing amidst the sorrow.
Dylan: Forever Loved and Remembered in Our Hearts invites readers into the heart/h-wrenching yet beautifully profound journey of a mother’s grief after the devastating loss of her beloved 20-year-old son, Dylan, who tragically died by suicide. Through a heartfelt collection of original poems and personal reflections, she courageously shares the painful complexities of her sorrow, the small moments of hope that emerged, and her ongoing path toward healing.
“On Baby’s Breath and Angel Wings” Poem: Grieving a Child’s Suicide
“On Baby’s Breath and Angel Wings” Poem: Grieving a Child’s Suicide delves into the deep, heart-wrenching sorrow of losing a child to suicide. This poignant piece not only articulates the immense pain of such a loss but also provides vital resources to navigate the challenging journey of grief. With tender personal reflections and thoughtful coping strategies, the post and poem, “On Baby’s Breath and Angel Wings” serves as a compassionate companion for those who are enduring similar heartaches.
A family gathering at a beautifully set table, featuring candles and a vase of pink roses, reflecting moments of love, loss, and healing, My Forever Son,A Grandmother’s Love Held Together the Family Table
A Grandmother’s Love Held Together the Family Table
A Grandmother’s Love Held Together the Family Table chronicles a family’s journey through the loss of their beloved son, Dylan. This tragedy alters their connections, turning a joyful gathering space into one of reflection. The narrative captures the struggle between despair and acceptance, underscoring love’s enduring power amidst heartache. In honoring Dylan’s memory, they find unexpected joy in their grief, illustrating the resilience of the human spirit in the face of loss.
Grandparents’ Double Grief: Losing a Grandchild to Suicide
Grandparents’ Double Grief: Losing a Grandchild to Suicide gently delves into the profound and heart-wrenching sorrow experienced by grandparents who endure the unimaginable loss of their grandchild. This painful journey envelops them in a dual mourning, as they grieve not only the precious life that is gone but also the shattered dreams and cherished memories that will sorrowfully remain unrealized for their own child, the grieving parent.
Memorial Day: A Mother’s Reflection on Loss, Love, and Unbearable Tragedy
Memorial Day: A Mother’s Reflection on Loss, Love, and Unbearable Tragedy beautifully captures the deep sorrow and unwavering love a mother feels for her son. The author bravely shares her heartfelt journey, navigating the immense pain and heartbreak tied to her son’s fourth suicide attempt on Memorial Day. Through her poignant narrative, she reveals the complex layers of a mother’s grief, intricately woven with fleeting moments of hope that resonate powerfully with anyone who is facing loss.
“Shaped by Love and This Grief Come to Stay”: A Poem on Suicide Loss
“Shaped by Love and This Grief Come to Stay” A Poem on Suicide Loss explores the profound sorrow a parent endures after losing a child to suicide. It addresses themes of grief and guilt, highlighting the heavy shadow such a tragedy casts on life. This poignant narrative captures a parent’s transformative journey in the wake of their child’s absence, revealing emotions of shame while confronting societal stigma surrounding suicide. With compassion and insight, the poem resonates with anyone who has faced similar heart-wrenching experiences.
11 Years After Suicide Loss: I Still Want to Believe
11 Years After Suicide Loss: I Still Want to Believe powerfully conveys the depths of my unyielding grief and a relentless yearning for my beloved son, Dylan, whose vibrant spirit was tragically stolen by suicide eleven heart-wrenching years ago at merely twenty. As my only child, his absence has carved an immense void in my soul, reshaping every facet of my life while perpetually stirring the cherished memories of the beautiful moments we once savored together.
Meet Dylan, My Forever Son
A joyful moment captured of Dylan, radiating happiness while seated outdoors, My Forever Son, Twenty Years of Love: Dylan
Twenty Years of Love: Dylan
“Twenty Years of Love: Dylan” offers a poignant exploration of grief and loss, weaving together cherished memories and reflections on Dylan’s life. The emotional resonance of this piece is deeply felt, beautifully portraying both the love and sorrow that the author carries in their heart. The thoughtful inclusion of links to further readings about Dylan and resources for support is a compassionate touch that adds immense value to those who may be navigating similar journeys.
Walking Through Shadows: Surviving the Unthinkable Loss of a Child to Suicide
Walking through Shadows: Surviving the Unthinkable Loss of a Child to Suicideoffers a deeply moving and heartfelt narrative that illuminates the unimaginable pain of losing a child to suicide. The personal stories shared create a sincere and unfiltered glimpse into the heavy journey of grief and the gradual path toward healing. Through poignant reflections and a poetic exploration on grief, the author navigates the chaotic emotions that accompany such a catastrophic event, revealing both the struggles and the moments of unexpected solace that can emerge even in the darkest times.
I Want It All Back: Remembering Dylan, My Forever Son
I Want It All Back: Remembering Dylan, My Forever Son lovingly encapsulates the profound heartache and cherished memories tied to the author’s beloved son, Dylan. Through heartfelt imagery and poignant personal stories, it invites readers to share in an emotional journey that resonates deeply, fostering a compassionate understanding of loss and love.
I Want to Believe: Searching for Hope After Losing My Son to Suicide
I Want to Believe: Searching for Hope After Losing My Son to Suicide is a heartfelt collection of personal reflections and cherished memories that navigates the profound journey of grief and hope following the heartbreaking loss of a son to suicide. The rawness of the emotions is deeply felt, drawing readers into a shared space of empathy. Through vivid descriptions and nostalgic elements, the work evokes a sense of connection and understanding, while the stunning images inspire hope and healing amidst the sorrow.
Dylan: Forever Loved and Remembered in Our Hearts invites readers into the heart/h-wrenching yet beautifully profound journey of a mother’s grief after the devastating loss of her beloved 20-year-old son, Dylan, who tragically died by suicide. Through a heartfelt collection of original poems and personal reflections, she courageously shares the painful complexities of her sorrow, the small moments of hope that emerged, and her ongoing path toward healing.
Healing Through Poetry: Grieving a Child’s Loss to Suicide
Healing Through Poetry: Grieving a Child’s Loss to Suicide explores the challenging journey of healing after the heartbreaking loss of a child to suicide. Heartfelt poems and evocative visuals create a soothing experience, inviting readers to connect with the deep emotions in each verse. This blend of poetry and photography from the author’s gardens fosters an emotional bond, offering comfort to those with similar experiences while encouraging them to acknowledge their pain, cherish memories, and seek healing amid despair.
He Left Too Soon
He left too soon— Lifting life from June, Casting torrents of rain
His absence— Breath of pain whose exhale can only bring Heart heaving, this beating of tears
Breaking loose— All hell in earth's upturned rupture, Death shoveling shadows over me
As I bend to lay flowers on his name— Inscribed and bronzed, A permanence come to stay
My love laced now with pain— Standing over my son's grave, Death's Derecho come to stay in my shadow.
“He Left Too Soon” Poem: A Mother’s Deep Sorrow “He Left Too Soon” Poem:A Mother’s Deep Sorrow is a poignant poem that bravely addresses the profound sorrow and anguish that comes with losing a beloved child to suicide. The poem aims to express the deep and complex emotions of grief, loss, and yearning, capturing the overwhelming turmoil that families face during such an unimaginable tragedy. The inspiration for the poem, “He Left Too Soon,” delves into the profound depths of early, acute grief following the heartbreaking loss of my son to suicide. This piece encapsulates themes of grief, mourning, remembrance, and the enduring love that persists even in the face of overwhelming sorrow.
Derecho: A Storm Out of Nowhere–Grief Poem: “He Left Too Soon”
Derecho: A Storm Out of Nowhere–Grief Poem: “He Left Too Soon” skillfully intertwines the sorrow stemming from the loss of her son to suicide with the tumult wrought by a powerful Derecho storm that occurred on the day of his funeral. Included in her publication, Bury My Heart: 19 Poems for Grief and Healing After Losing a Child to Suicide, the poem that was inspired by the Derecho, “He Left Too Soon,” explores the profound grief and emotional turmoil she experienced. Through her eloquent writing, Brown aspires to offer solace to those enduring similar tragedies, thereby shedding light on the fragility of life and the enduring strength of love amidst sorrow.
“On Baby’s Breath and Angel Wings”: Grieving a Child’s Suicide
“On Baby’s Breath and Angel Wings” Poem: Grieving a Child’s Suicide explores the profound grief of losing a child to suicide. The author, Beth Brown, reflects on the painful memories of her son Dylan’s life, his love for music, and the helplessness she felt in his final days. The poem “On Baby’s Breath and Angel Wings” juxtaposes the beauty of Dylan’s childhood memories with the devastating reality of his tragic end.
Once Upon a Blue-Sky Moon(excerpt)
But oh my son, if I’d only known I’d have reached right in to your dark night’s soul–
I would have held on, I would have clutched you, I would have never let you go
But you told me “Mom I love you” Oh my child, if I’d only known.
“Once Upon a Blue-Sky Moon”: A Poem About Losing My Son to Suicide
“Once Upon a Blue-Sky Moon”: A Poem About Losing My Son to Suicide captures the profound sorrow of losing a child to suicide. Through vivid imagery, it honors the enduring love between parent and child, providing solace and hope for reunion. The poem is a poignant tribute to Brown’s son, Dylan, where the author remembers her son’s growing-up years, both cherished memories and moments where “If I’d Only Known” echo in her refrain. A powerful poem for parents who have lost a child to suicide.
The Emotional Depth of “Beat Still My Heart”: A Powerful Elegy
The Emotional Depth of ‘Beat Still My Heart’: A Powerful Elegy explores the deep emotional journey of losing a child to suicide. This poignant reflection through poetry captures the sorrow and despair of such a loss, blending personal experiences with universal themes of love and remembrance.The author navigates grief with verses that resonate, inviting readers to confront raw emotions and unanswered questions. Vivid imagery of a shipwreck in a storm encapsulates the unbearable loss, making the elegy a powerful tribute to a tragic experience.
A heart-wrenching moment at a grave site, capturing the profound grief of losing a child, as a woman kneels in sorrow while a companion offers support, “Sorrow Buried in Love”: A Poem for Grieving Parents My Forever Son
“Sorrow Buried in Love”: A Poem for Grieving Parents
“Sorrow Buried in Love”: A Poem for Grieving Parents explores the heart-wrenching journey of a parent grappling with the profound loss of a child to suicide. While friends and family often offer encouragement towards healing, those who have walked this painful path understand how overwhelming these expectations can be. Moving forward is not just about progressing in life; it also involves cherishing and carrying our child’s memory within us, honoring their presence in all we do.
“Bury My Heart”: A Grief Poem of Unimaginable Loss
Bury My Heart: A Grief Poem of Unimaginable Loss is a poignant poem that captures the deep sorrow of losing a child, an agonizing experience that many parents fear but few can truly comprehend until faced with such a heartbreaking reality. It weaves themes of grief, hope, and healing into a tapestry of emotions, allowing readers to navigate their own journeys of despair and recovery. The poem provides not only an outlet for those grappling with this unimaginable pain but also serves as a powerful reminder that they are not alone in their struggles.
“He Left Too Soon” Poem: AMother’s Deep Sorrow is a deeply moving poem that captures the profound feelings of early, acute grief that follow the unimaginable loss of a child to the heartbreaking tragedy of suicide. The evocative verses resonate with the themes of grief, mourning, and loss, portraying the complex emotions that envelop a mother’s heart in such a profoundly difficult time.
Haunted by Guilt in Grief Poem: “Still from Sky I’m Falling”
Haunted by Guilt in Grief Poem: “Still from Sky I’m Falling“ shares a profoundly personal journey through the heart-wrenching experience of grief and guilt following the tragic loss of a child to suicide, featuring the poignant poem “Still from Sky I’m Falling.” Interlacing the deep sorrow of loss with the haunting feelings of remorse, the author creates a poem deep with heartfelt reflections that offer a glimpse into the overwhelming emotional struggle and the fragile path towards healing that follow such an unimaginable tragedy.
“Shaped by Love and This Grief Come to Stay”: A Poem on Suicide Loss
“Shaped by Love and This Grief Come to Stay”: A Poem on Suicide Loss examines the profound connection between love and grief experienced after the heartbreaking loss of her son to suicide. The poem beautifully conveys the author’s steadfast commitment to honor her journey of grief, affirming her right to experience her emotions fully and illustrating the deep intertwining of love and sorrow. Through evocative imagery, “Shaped by Love and This Grief Come to Stay” poignantly expresses the complicated feelings that accompany such a significant and painful loss.
If only a mother’s love could have saved you, Could have heard in the dark your heart’s cry, She could have saved you yet both together, Falling stars in a moonless sky.
“If Only a Mother’s Love Could Have Saved You”: Powerful Poem
If Only a Mother’s Love Could Have Saved You: Powerful Poem explores the deep emotional pain of losing a child to suicide. The author conveys their experience through poignant verses that depict the raw essence of grief, reflecting the complex emotions of sorrow and longing. The heartfelt language serves as a reminder of enduring love in the face of unimaginable loss.
When Love Isn’t Enough: “Ode to Suicide: That We Might Understand”
When Love Isn’t Enough: “Ode to Suicide: That We Might Understand” explores the complexities of suicide and includes a compassionate treatise written by the author, “Ode to Suicide: That We Might Understand,” challenging the notion that it is a choice. The treatise, “Ode to Suicide: That We Might Understand,” emphasizes the inevitability of death, regardless of the cause, and the limitations of love in preventing it. The author of the treatise “Ode to Suicide: That We Might Understand” and this article, “When Love Isn’t Enough,” Beth Brown shares her personal journey of grief after losing her son to suicide, finding solace in writing and nature photography.
Healing Words: Download 3 Compassionate Poems for Coping with the Loss of a Child
A Grandmother’s Love Held Together the Family Table
A Grandmother’s Love Held Together the Family Table offers a deeply personal and moving exploration of love and grief associated with family gatherings and the loss of a child. Framed through the lens of her son, Dylan, the story of the family table unfolds through his loving childhood memories. Against this backdrop of cherished memories, the author reveals the profound grief of losing a child, her son Dylan, to suicide.
A cheerful young man, Dylan, age 17, sitting on a porch, embodying the spirit of youthful joy, My Forever Son, Twenty Years of Love: Dylan
Twenty Years of Love: Dylan
Twenty Years of Love: Dylan delves deeply into the personal journey of grief and loss, offering heartfelt memories and reflections on the life of Dylan. The emotional impact is palpable, and the piece effectively captures the enduring love and pain experienced by the author. The inclusion of links to additional readings about Dylan and resources for support is valuable.
Memorial Day: A Mother’s Reflection on Loss, Love, and Unimaginable Grief
Memorial Day: A Mother’s Reflection on Loss, Love, and Unimaginable Grief beautifully conveys the profound heartache and unwavering love that a mother feels for her son. The author shares her deeply moving journey of navigating the pain and challenges that arise from her son’s fourth suicide attempt on Memorial Day, illuminating the complexities of a mother’s grief intertwined with a glimmer of hope.
Navigating Guilt in Grief: A Parent’s Guide is a compassionate exploration that acknowledges the intricate emotions that arise in the wake of a loved one’s suicide, focusing specifically on the experiences of parents. This guide delves into the deep, often conflicting feelings of grief, guilt, and despair that can engulf parents who have experienced such an unimaginable loss.
Walking Through Shadows: Surviving the Unthinkable Loss of a Child to Suicide
Walking through Shadows: Surviving the Unthinkable Loss of a Child to Suicide has a profound and emotional narrative in the form of a narrative poem that sheds light on the struggle of losing a child to suicide. The personal experiences shared provide an authentic and raw look into the journey of grief and healing. The author emphasizes the importance of staying true to one’s narrative and finding support.
Key Resources for Understanding Suicide
Compassionate Guidance for Navigating Loss
These key resources for understanding suicide and coping with grief provide compassionate guidance for readers as they navigate the challenging landscape of loss. In particular, the “Rain Comes to Heal Us All” Poem: Finding Hope After Loss, offers solace and a new perspective. The journey of coping often means confronting feelings of stigma, guilt, and isolation, intermixed with a complex array of emotions, ranging from anger to relief.
Research compassionately underscores that suicide is not a conscious choice, emphasizing the importance of a non-judgmental approach to emotional healing. Engaging with support groups and educational materials can be a source of empowerment for survivors, nurturing community connections and facilitating a path toward healing and hope.
Included are the author’s personal story of losing her child, resources for emotional support, professional insights on suicide’s complexities, discussions on the duration of grief, and a selection of helpful resources for bereaved parents.
Healing After Suicide: Essential Books for Parents
Healing After Suicide: Essential Books for Parents is a comprehensive resource for parents grieving the loss of a child to suicide. The book offers a curated list of books, including practical guides, narratives, poetry, and novels, providing support and understanding for those navigating grief. The author, Beth Brown, shares her personal journey of loss and healing, emphasizing the importance of support groups and educational materials in the grieving process.
A serene view from a window featuring a blooming orchid and a rainy landscape outside, symbolizing growth and reflection amidst sorrow, Understanding Suicide: It’s Not a Choice, My Forever Son
Understanding Suicide: It’s Not a Choice
Understanding Suicide: It’s Not a Choice presents a heartfelt exploration of the complex and deeply emotional subject of suicide. The piece invites readers to reflect on the harrowing question of whether suicide can truly be seen as a choice. Insights from Dr. John Ackerman, a prominent suicide epidemiologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, shed light on this critical issue.
Dr. Ackerman emphasizes the often-overlooked factors that contribute to suicidal thoughts, stating, “We often underestimate the multitude of factors that impact such a complex and irreversible outcome as suicide. Individuals grappling with the profound emotional turmoil that gives rise to suicidal thoughts typically do not wish to end their lives; they are, instead, yearning for relief from the immense pain often exacerbated by the absence of supportive resources and understanding.”
This poignant examination not only raises awareness but also fosters empathy and understanding, making it a must-read for anyone seeking to support loved ones in need.
Healing After Losing a Child to Suicide: Support, Resources, and Self-Care for Bereaved Parents
Healing After Losing a Child to Suicide, Support, Resources, and Self-Care for Bereaved Parents offers a comprehensive list of resources and support for individuals grieving the loss of a loved one to suicide. It includes personal insights, professional perspectives, and a curated selection of books and support groups. The author, Beth Brown, shares her own experience of losing her son to suicide and emphasizes the importance of seeking help and understanding.
Surviving Suicide Grief: Does the Pain Ever End? offers a compassionate look at and attempts to response to one of the most profound challenges of longterm grief after suicide loss: Does the pain of losing a child to suicide is profound and never fully goes away, but it does change and become a part of one’s life. Finding support through counseling, support groups, and connecting with others who have experienced similar losses is crucial for healing. Grief is a journey with seasons that come and go, and it is possible to learn to live with the pain while honoring the love for the lost child.
To those of you that still feel you aren’t even sure you want to be here and you can’t imagine ever being happy again. The pain does change, it softens. You will want to live again and be able to enjoy life again. It will never be like before but the crushing, all consuming pain you feel right now will soften. You will be able to live with it. It just becomes part of you.
Understanding the Pain of Suicide Loss: “When Someone is Too Bruised to Be Touched”
Understanding the Pain of Suicide Loss: “When Someone is Too Bruised to Be Touched” features Ronald Rolheiser’s writings on suicide which offer a compassionate and spiritual perspective, emphasizing that suicide is often a tragic consequence of mental illness, not a voluntary act. He encourages loved ones to release guilt and second-guessing, understanding that they are not responsible for the person’s death. Rolheiser also highlights the importance of remembering the deceased’s life beyond their suicide, trusting in God’s infinite love and understanding.
A young person reflecting in a somber environment, embodying the emotional complexities of grief and understanding related to suicide, Understanding Suicide: Why the Pain Matters
Understanding Suicide: Why the Pain Matters
Understanding Suicide: Why the Pain Matters explores the pain and grief surrounding suicide, emphasizing that it is not a conscious choice but a desperate attempt to escape unbearable suffering. The article highlights current research, personal stories, and compassionate support for those struggling with depression and mental health, aiming to break the stigma surrounding suicide. It provides resources and insights into the complexities of grief and the journey towards healing.
A contemplative young woman expresses deep emotions, reflecting the complexities of grief and loss discussed in the article on coping with a child’s suicide, The Backstory to My Forever Son: A Mother’s Grief, My Forever Son
The Backstory to My Forever Son: A Mother’s Grief
The Backstory to My Forever Son: A Mother’s Grief, recounts the author’s harrowing experience of losing her son to suicide. Her story highlights her grief, guilt, and the healing power of writing. The blog “My Forever Son” came about as a way for the author to work through this devastating grief that follows the loss of a child to suicide. My Forever Son blog serves as a platform for sharing experiences and finding healing and solace in community.
Parents of Suicides: An Online Support Group for Parents Who Lose a Child to Suicide
Suicide is the anchor point on a continuum of suicidal thoughts & behaviors. This continuum is one that ranges from risk-taking behaviors at one end, extends through different degrees & types of suicidal thinking, & ends with suicide attempts and suicide.
Parents of Suicidesis a dedicated international online closed email group where parents who have lost a child to suicide come together to offer support, hope, and healing. Join a Community of Understanding. Parents of Suicides (PoS) provides a safe space for sharing experiences, coping mechanisms, and emotional support. You are not alone in this journey. Together, we can find strength and solace.
Professional Resources and Support
Parents of Suicides is a compassionate, international online community for parents who have tragically lost a child to suicide, providing a safe space for support, connection, and resources to aid in their healing journey.
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is a compassionate nonprofit organization devoted to saving lives and offering hope to individuals and families impacted by the profound pain of suicide.
Alliance of Hope for Suicide Loss Survivors offers compassionate healing support for those navigating the profound shock, heart-wrenching grief, and intricate emotions that arise from losing a cherished loved one to suicide.
The American Association of Suicidology is a compassionate membership organization dedicated to deepening our understanding of suicide and working tirelessly to prevent it, fostering hope and healing for those affected.
Nationwide Children’s Hospital Suicide Research Center is dedicated to conducting compassionate research focused on understanding and reducing suicidal behaviors, as well as providing valuable insights to prevent the profound pain of suicide.
Mayo Clinic offers compassionate insights into the profound sorrow of losing a loved one to suicide, helping us navigate the complex emotions that accompany such grief and providing guidance on finding solace and support during this incredibly challenging time.
The Compassionate Friends provide invaluable Grief Resources & Support Groups for Parents and Families navigating the profound heartache of losing a child, offering comfort and connection during an incredibly difficult time.
Understanding the Unique Aspects of Suicide Grief Summary Understanding the Unique Aspects of Suicide Grief explores the unique challenges of coping with suicide grief. The author, who lost her son to suicide, shares her personal experiences, her emotional journey, and provides resources for emotional support and understanding. The post includes a collection of articles and…
Understanding Suicide: Grief and Healing Insights Summary Understanding Suicide: Grief and Healing Insights examines prevalent misconceptions about suicide, emphasizing the importance of compassionate understanding and forgiveness in the grieving process. Drawing on insights from Ronald Rolheiser, it clarifies that suicide is primarily the result of mental health challenges rather than personal failure, and reassures that…
Understanding Prolonged Grief Disorder After Suicide Summary Understanding Prolonged Grief Disorder After Suicide provides a detailed description of and discussion of “Prolonged Grief Disorder,” “previously known as complicated grief, describes long-term mourning after loss, especially from suicide. Suicide grief is complicated by guilt, shame, and societal stigma, making it difficult to move through. While labeling…
Understanding Suicide: It’s Not a Choice Summary The article, Understanding Suicide: It’s Not a Choice, affirms with well-documented research that suicide is not a choice, but a tragic outcome of intense emotional pain and distorted judgment. The stigma surrounding suicide persists, hindering understanding and perpetuating the misconception that it is a selfish act. Suicide epidemiologists…
Understanding the Pain of Suicide Loss: “When Someone is Too Bruised to Be Touched” Summary The article “Understanding the Pain of Suicide Loss: “When Someone is Too Bruised to Be Touched” explores the profound grief and struggles faced by those left behind after a loved one dies by suicide. It features Father Ronald Rolheiser’s insightful…
Understanding Suicide: Why the Pain Matters Summary Understanding Suicide: Why the Pain Matters by author Beth Brown explores the pain and grief surrounding suicide, emphasizing that it is not a conscious choice but a desperate attempt to escape unbearable suffering. Her article highlights current research into understanding suicide and suicidal thinking, personal stories shared by…
Struggling with Guilt in Suicide Grief Summary Introduction Related Reads Parents of children who die by suicide often battle anadded type of guilt. Even if they do not blame themselvesfor not directly intervening in the suicidal act, they often feelguilt over some perceived mistake in raising their children.“Where did I go wrong?,” “I pushed them…
When Love Isn’t Enough: ‘Ode to Suicide: That We Might Understand’ Summary When Love Isn’t Enough: ‘Ode to Suicide: That We Might Understand’ unravels the profound complexities surrounding suicide, featuring an impactful poem and a heartfelt treatise by the author, “Ode to Suicide: That We Might Understand.” This poignant article and poetic reflection encourage readers…
Holding True to My Son’s Narrative: “Shaped by Love” Poem Analysis Summary Holding True to My Son’s Narrative: “Shaped by Love” Poem Analysis by Beth Brown explores the profound connection between love and grief following the loss of her son to suicide. The poem emphasizes the author’s refusal to change her narrative of grief, asserting…
Musician. Writer. Literary Connoisseur. Always writing, scribbling poetry, turning feelings into words. "Break my heart even further" can't ever be done, for I lost my heart the night I lost my son. Come find me writing at My Forever Son: Grief, Hope, and Healing After Losing My Son to Suicide.
At the whim of Most Beloved Cat, I write as she tattles on the garden cats. Find Most Beloved Cat sharing her stories at Gardens at Effingham: Where Cats Tell the Tales
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