Support for people bereaved by suicide
When someone dies by suicide it can turn your world upside down and the feelings you have can be powerful, deeply painful and overwhelming. You can find out more about the help and support available to you and tips for if you're supporting someone bereaved by suicide in this leaflet.
Cruse Scotland is funded by the Scottish Government to provide free bereavement support for workplaces affected by suicide. It can be devastating when a colleague, client or patient dies by suicide - some people may experience shock and overwhelming feelings of sadness, others report feelings of guilt and blame - and managers are often unsure how to navigate the aftermath. Cruse Scotland are highly trained and experienced in dealing with grief following suicide. For more information click here.
The film, Healing The Loss, explores places of special meaning where people remember their loved one lost to suicide. One such place is the Clootie Tree in the the Scottish Borders, where a group of people bereaved by suicide have come together in their shared experience and dedicated the tree to people who have died by suicide. This film is for anyone who has experienced bereavement by suicide, has supported someone bereaved by suicide, or would like to find out more information about the After A Suicide Working Group in the Scottish Borders. Click here to watch the film.
Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide helpline: 0300 111 5056 (Monday & Tuesday 9am - 5pm) https://uksobs.org/
Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide local support group: 1st Tuesday of the month, 6:30 - 8:30pm, Old Gala House. Contact the local Co-ordinator on 0770 4691 111 or email scottishborders@uksobs.org
Facing the Future: Developed by Samaritans and Cruse Bereavement Support to help support people who have been bereaved by suicide. Facing the Future support groups are run on Zoom and give people the opportunity to meet others who have lost someone to suicide and receive support. https://www.facingthefuturegroups.org
PETAL (People Experiencing Trauma and Loss): Offers therapy and counselling services for people who are experiencing bereavement grief and loss as a direct result of suicide. PETAL currently also provide a service for children and young people age aged between 12 and 24. T: 01698 324502 E: Info@petalsupport.com http://www.petalsupport.com
After a suicide booklet (SAMH): Provides further information about the practical issues that might need to be faced after a suicide and discusses some of the emotions you might be experiencing.
PAPYRUS HOPELINE: Not only to support young people who are experiencing thoughts of suicide, or those concerned for them. It’s also for any professional who has had an experience with suicide and would like to talk it through with a trained professional for instance first responders, doctors, nurses, police, counsellors, teachers and pastoral staff. To debrief with one of their suicide prevention advisers, T: 0800 068 4141, text 07860 039967 or E: pat@papyrus-uk.org