Survivors of Suicide Loss
Immedietly following the tragedy of suicide loss, it is not uncommon to feel only despair. It helps to share the pain with others, whether that be one on one or in a group support setting. You are not alone.
The fact that someone died by suicide does not diminish our love for them, their value, the contribution they made to our families and communities and our right and need to celebrate and honor their lives and accomplishments. It is how a person lived not how they died that defines someone.
Guides & Toolkits for Survivors of Suicide Loss
This is a practical guide to help you through… the first few moments, then the first few hours, then the first few days, then the first few years…after the suicide of someone you love.
This guide has been written with the help of many suicide survivors and the health professionals who work with them. We hope it will help you through this difficult time. Please share it with others who may benefit from the information. The guide focuses on the practical matters that survivors need to deal with after a suicide.
By Suicide Response Initiative of the Calgary Health Region and the BC Ministry of Health
This handbook was written to help you through the death by suicide of your loved one. It contains both practical and personal information, as well as a list of books, websites and support groups, that we hope will help you through your grief. Different parts of this resource may be of help to you at different times.
Immediately after a death by suicide, there are many practical matters that families will need to attend to and questions they might have about what to do. This resource starts with addressing these practical matters. Grief associated with a death by suicide can be complicated, and also very different to what people experience following death by other causes. Immediately after a suicide death, people are often in shock and unable to describe or explain their feelings or make meaning of what has happened. You may need time before you feel ready to examine what has happened, how it has affected you, what it all means, and what you need in order to begin healing.
By Klinic Community Health Centre
After a Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools assists schools in implementing a coordinated response to the suicide death of a student. Originally developed in 2011, the second edition includes new information and tools that middle and high schools can use to help the school community cope and reduce suicide risk. It is designed primarily for administrators and staff but can also be useful for parents and communities.
By the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the Suicide Prevention
Resource Center and the Education Development Center
After a death by suicide, one of the first decisions you and your family will make is what to include in an obituary and whether or not to include the word suicide. Historically, suicide was never mentioned as the cause of death, but, in more recent times, some families have chosen to disclose the fact that their loved one died by suicide. The decision whether or not to disclose this information in an obituary is a personal one that only you and your family can make.
By Ontario Funeral Services Association & Waterloo Region Suicide Prevention Council
How to Talk to your Child about a Suicide Attempt in Your Family
A guide for adults to use when talking with specific age groups of children about a suicide attempt in the family. It is not intended to replace the advice of a mental health professional. In fact, it may be best to use this along with professional support if you or your child is struggling with how to talk about this difficult topic. It is important to consider your child’s level of development and ability to understand events when deciding how to talk with them about this issue.
By The US Department of Veterans Affairs
Resources & Links for Survivors of Suicide Loss
The Mental Health Commission of Canada leads the development and dissemination of innovative programs and tools to support the mental health and wellness of Canadians. Through its unique mandate from the Government of Canada, the MHCC supports federal, provincial, and territorial governments as well as organizations in the implementation of sound public policy.
The National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention works with more than 250 national partners from the public and private sectors to advance the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. The Action Alliance is currently focusing on three priority areas, selected from the National Strategy, based on their potential to save lives: transforming health systems, transforming communities, and changing the conversation.
The Canadian Mental Health Association Simcoe County provides a full care system for those with addictions and mental health issues. We serve everyone from youth to adults to seniors. Our programs help individuals and families to lead lives filled with meaning and promise. We have 250 staff at offices in Barrie, Orillia, Collingwood, Midland, Innisfil and soon Wasaga Beach.
Created by teens at Dougy Center for teens who are grieving. Dougy Center provides support in a safe place where children, teens, young adults, and families who are grieving can share their experiences before and after a death. They provide support and training locally, nationally, and internationally to individuals and organizations seeking to assist children in grief.
Video provides insight on the experiences of children and families after a suicide death, and offers ways to support them. The video and guide are resources for professional trainings, as well as for general viewing by anyone who wants to better understand how to help those who are grieving. 26 Minutes, $19.95 download.
Provides peer to peer support for children between the ages of 5 and 24 years who are grieving the death of an immediate family member. The Centre is founded on the belief that every child deserves the opportunity to grieve in a supportive and understanding environment.
Additional Links of Interest on this Site:
Survivors of Suicide Loss Support Groups by Province
Alberta
Catholic Family Services – Men’s Support Group
(for men experiencing any type of loss)
9902-101 Street (lower level)
Grande Prairie, AB T8V 2P5
Contact: Erna
Phone: (780) 532-9381
email: moone@gpcsd28.ab.ca
Sharing Our Loss – Lethbridge Family Services
1107 – 2nd Avenue North
Lethbridge, AB T1H 0E6
Contact: Mary Shillington
Phone: (403) 327-5724
email: mshillington@lethbridge-family-severices.com
Living with Loss to Suicide
When: The Last Monday of the Month
Time: 7:00pm – 9:00 pm
Where: Queen Street Medical Centre
FCSS Office 105 – 505 Queen Street, Spruce Grove, Alberta
Contact: Meryl Murray R.S.W.
Work phone—780-342-1340
British Columbia
Suicide Bereavement Support Group
16 – 1708 Bowen Road
Nanaimo, BC
Contact: Lyndsay Wells
Phone: (250) 753-2495
email: lyndsay@cvics.ca
S.A.F.E.R. Counselling Services (Suicide Attempt Follow-Up, Education and Research)
310 – 1669 East Broadway
Vancouver, BC V5N 1V9
Phone: (604) 675-3985
email: dammy.albach@vch.ca
Intake Worker – 8:30am – 4:30pm Monday to Friday
Heartbeat: A Suicide Survivor Support Group CMHA
1152 3rd Avenue
Prince George, BC
Phone: (250) 964-8644
Abacore Suicide Support Group
14660 – 72nd Avenue
Surrey, BC
Contact: Marlyn Ferguson
Phone: (604) 596-8866
Healing after Suicide Support Group
P.O. Box 400, 421 16th Ave. S.
Creston, BC
Contact: Creston RCMP Victim Services
Phone: (250) 428-9313
SOLOS: Surviving Our Loved One’s Suicide
(Surrey Central Mental Health)
7525 King George Hwy, #110
Surrey, BC V3W 5A8
Contact: Dave Kealy
Phone: (604) 592-4945
Grief Support Group
(Surrey Memorial Hospital)
13750 – 96th Avenue
Surrey, BC V3V 1Z2
Phone: (604) 581-2211 x2940
After Suicide Support Group
(Chimo Crisis Services )
120-7000 Minoru Blvd
Richmond, BC V6Y 3Z5
The Caring Place
Contact: Sylvia Cust
Phone: (604) 279-7077
Support for Suicide Loss
300-818 Douglas Street
Victoria, BC
Contact: Melanie Winter
Phone: (250) 386-6328
email: admin@need2.ca
Manitoba
Healing From Suicide’s Grief
St. John’s United Church
52 Cariboo Road
Thompson, MB R8N 0L1
Contact: Leslie King
Phone: (204) 677-4495
email: stjohn@mts.net
After Suicide Bereavement Support Group
(Klinic Community Health Centre)
870 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg, MB R3G 0P1
Contact: Elly Vander Zande
Phone: (204) 784-4064
email: klinic@klinic.mb.ca
Speak: Suicide Prevention Education Awareness Knowledge
Klinic Community Health Centre (Survivors of Suicide Self Help Group)
870 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg, MB R3G 0Z3
Phone: (204) 784-4064
email: speak@klinic.mb.ca
New Brunswick
Capital Region Mental Health and Addictions Association
292-65 Brunswick Street
Fredericton, NB E3B 1G5
Phone: (506) 458-1803
Grief Recovery Outreach Program
349 Big Cove Rd
Elsipogtog, NB E4W 2S3
Phone: 506-523-8222
email: crisis@ehwc.ca
CMHA: Survivors of Suicide Self-Help Group
Suite 1500, 15 Market Square
Saint John, NB E2L 1E8
Contact: Executive Director
Phone: (506) 633-1705
Fax: (506) 633-2892
email: cmha@nb.aibn.ca
Newfoundland and Labrador
Survivors of Suicide Loss Support Group – St. Johns
99 Dorans Lane
St. Johns, NFLD
Contact: Tina Davies
Phone: (709) 726-4223
email: tgdavies99@gmail.com
Survivors of Suicide Loss Support – Corner Brook
Summit Place, 112 Premier Drive
Corner Brook, NL
Contact: Community Mental Health Initiative
Phone: (709)634-4322
Email: cmhi.iac@gmail.com
Nova Scotia
Bereavement Support
P.O. Box 2391
Springhill, NS B0M 1X0
Contact: Earl & Marie Gilbert
Phone: (902) 597-3611
Survivors of Suicide
St. Andrew’s United Church Hall, 6036 Coburg Rd (at Robie Street)
Halifax, NS B3H 1Z1
Contact: George Tomie
Phone: (902) 445-0860
email: george.tomie@gmail.com
website: www.SOSnovascotia.com
Survivor of Suicide Support Group
929 Greenhill Road, R.R. #1
Westville, NS B0K 2A0
Contact: Lori Miller
Phone: (902) 396-3000
Northwest Territories
Whitehorse, Yukon
CMHA Yukon
415 Baxter St.
Whitehorse, Yukon
867-668-6429
Kamatsiaqtut Help Line
Iqaluit, NU
Phone: (800) 265-3333
website: www.nunavuthelpline.ca/index.html
Ontario
Toronto Distress Centre
Phone: (416) 595-1716
Website: www.torontodistresscentre.com/survivor-support
Canadian Mental Health, Brantford
Lill Petrella
Email: lill@cmhabhn.ca
Friends in Grief, Hamilton
Bay Gardens Funeral Home, 947 Rymal Road East
Phone: (905) 318-0059
Email: fig@mountaincable.net
Bereaved Families of Ontario-Ottawa Region
Phone: (613) 567-4278
Website: www.bfo-ottawa.org
Email: office@bfo-ottawa.org
CMHA Thames Valley Addiction and Mental Health Services
Website: https://cmhatv.ca
Email: grief@cmhatv.ca
Victim Services Bruce Grey Perth
Phone: (888) 577-3111
Email: sgsg@victim-services.com
Website: www.victim-services.com
Orillia
Contact: Bernadette/Dianne
Phone: (705) 326-9941/ (705) 327-5970
Barrie
Contact: Bernadette/Sheila
Phone: (705) 326-9941/ (705) 737-0534
Waterloo
Nine week professional run group 4 times/year and monthly peer support group
Contact: Elisa Brewer-Singh
Phone: 519-894-1400 ext 2151
Email: ebrewersingh@lutherwood.ca
Halton/Peel
Heartache 2 Hope
Contact: Flavia Ceschin
1155 North Service Rd. Unit 11
Oakville, ON
Phone: 905.599.HOPE (4673)
Website: www.Heartache2Hope.com
Prince Edward Island
CMHA: Adult Survivors of Suicide Self-Help Group
178 Fitzroy St
Charlottetown, PE C1A 7L9
Contact: Consumer & Family Support Program
Phone: (902) 628-1648
email: selfhelp@cmha.pe.ca
Quebec
Support Group for Children 8 – 12
Laval, QC
contact: Danyelle Latreille
phone: (450) 687-5691
Family Survivors of Suicide
phone: (514) 932-9692
website: www.suicideaftermath.ca
Teen Survivors of Suicide
1857 de Maisonneuve Blvd.
Montreal, QC H3H 1J9
phone: (514) 937-5351
email: info@ccs-montreal.org
Saskatchewan
After Suicide Support Saskatoon
108 – 322 LaRonge Road
Saskatoon, SK S7K 8B9
Contact: Cathy Campbell
Phone: (306) 249-5666
email: ccampbell@shaw.ca
Surviving Suicide Support Group
Greystone Bereavement Centre
700 B 4400 – 4th Avenue
Regina, SK S4T 0H8
Contact: Marlene Jackson
Phone: (306) 766-6947
Survivors of Suicide Grief Support Group
4th Wed. of each month at 7:30pm
at Jones-Parkview Funeral Services
474 Hochelaga St. W.
Moose Jaw Saskatchewan.
Contact: Della Ferguson
Email: dferguson@sasktel.net
Phone Jones-Parkview at 306-693-4644
Suicide Bereavement Group
Contact: Joanne Nicholls
Tisdale, Sakstachewan
Every 2nd Wednesday of the month at 7:00pm
Anglican Church (1304-98th Street, Tisdale)
Phone: 306-873-3760