Resources

Resources for suicide loss survivors

a letter to my fellow loss survivors

Losing someone to suicide is heartbreaking. As a suicide loss survivor myself, I know how the experience had a tremendous impact on me, but it’s important to remember that everyone’s loss experience is unique.

First and foremost, it’s important to take care of your own mental health. You may feel the need to push your grief to the side in order to help others, but remember the oxygen mask example. At the beginning of every flight we are reminded that in the event of a loss in cabin pressure we should put our own oxygen mask on before attempting to help others. The same is true now. As mush as you want to help others (and that’s a noble pursuit) it’s important to check in with yourself and evaluate how this situation is impacting you. It’s okay to ask for help!

Please know that help is always available. If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide or experiencing a mental health crisis please contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. Your life matters, and you belong here!

Below, you‘ll find a list of helpful resources and links to help you navigate your grief. I invite you to look through all of them as you are ready to do so (there’s no rush, grief isn’t a race, and sadly there’s no finish line where we get to leave it behind). These sites contain a number of productive ways to work through your grief, but there’s not a one size fits all approach. Maybe the idea of a support group is intimidating, but journaling speaks to you to help you process all the emotions going through your head. Or maybe the idea of an in person walk or event sparks joy. We all work through these tragedies in our own ways and on our own timelines, just know that you don’t have to work through them on your own.

Know that we stand with you. In this grief journey you have found yourself on, you are not alone!

Yours in resilience,

Erica Tillotson

Founder & President

Michael H. Tillotson Foundation