International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day on November 21st
International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day on November 21st
This international day is an event in which survivors of suicide loss come together to find connection, understanding, and hope through their shared experiences.
Did you know?
In 1999, Senator Harry Reid, who lost his father to suicide, introduced a resolution to the United States Senate, leading to the creation of International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day. Also known as Survivor Day, the day was designated by the United States Congress as a day on which those affected by suicide can join for healing and support. It was determined that Survivor Day would always fall on the Saturday before American Thanksgiving, as the holidays are often a difficult time for suicide loss survivors.
Who sponsors Survivors Day?
Every year, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention supports Survivors Day events all over the world and the peace that it brings.
Is suicide related to depression?
Most people who die by suicide have an underlying mental condition.
How can I help prevent suicide?
Asking someone directly if they’re thinking about suicide oftentimes starts a conversation and gives them relief.
HOW TO OBSERVE INTERNATIONAL SURVIVORS OF SUICIDE LOSS DAY
Attend a Survivors Day event
UHS offers Survivors Day events that allow you to find share in the messages of healing and hope. Some of these events screen movies and documentaries about coping with suicide after a shared loss. They depict all the difficult stages including denial, isolation, grief, and the ways in which you can heal from the pain. If you can’t go in person, you can view the program online at www.afsp.org/SurvivorDay.
Write it out
Art is a great way to express yourself when times get difficult. Grab a journal or use your computer to write down your thoughts. This can be in the form of a poem, a story, or just a journal entry. By expressing yourself, you can come to understand your feelings and where they’re coming from. Turning something difficult into something that’s true and beautiful can also make you feel like you have more control over it.
Attend a local grief support group
It can be scary telling your own story to a group of people, but support groups offer safe spaces for you to meet with others who have been affected by suicide. It’s a place of understanding as individuals grapple with the hardships of living with it. You'll have the benefit of speaking with and hearing from professionals with the capacity to help you get through your own battle.
How Can You Help Someone Who Has Lost a Loved One to Suicide?
Be willing to listen. Be an active listener and be a part of their healing process.
Encourage them to find a support group. Support groups allow survivors to connect with other people who share the experience.
Don’t expect survivors to “get over it.” Don’t set expectations about how the survivor “should be” reacting.
Realize grief will sometimes feel overwhelming and allow your friend or family member to process it in their own time.
Avoid passing judgments, simplistic explanations of the suicide, and clichés. They can intensify grief for the survivor.
Familiarize yourself with the wide spectrum of emotions that many survivors of suicide experience. Allow the person to experience all the hurt, sorrow and pain that he or she is feeling at the time.
Be aware of holidays and anniversaries. Survivors may have a difficult time during special occasions like holidays and anniversaries because they emphasize the absence of the person who has died.
You're not alone
Whether you have struggled with suicide yourself or have lost a loved one, know you are not alone. Hear about personal experiences from people in your local community whose lives have been impacted by suicide. Please visit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to find out more information, watch video clips, and join local chapters in your state: https://afsp.org/international-survivors-of-suicide-loss-day
Website Accreditation from American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: https://afsp.org/ and https://nationaltoday.com/international-survivors-of-suicide-day/