Dealing With The Death Of A Loved One To Suicide
Losing a loved one is never easy, but losing them to suicide is more painful still.
The harsh reality is that close to 50,000 Americans commit suicide each year. While the loss of life is a tragedy in itself, the impact on surviving loved ones makes it sadder still. It is a life-changing moment for friends and relatives alike. If you encounter this situation, taking the right steps to navigate this horrific moment is vital. Here’s all you need to know.
Address The Scene
Discovering a loved one’s body is one of the most shocking and heartbreaking moments that you’ll ever encounter. While you’ll probably never forget the image, it’s essential that you take care of the scene immediately. The longer that it is left in this status, the worse it will feel.
First and foremost, you need to call an emergency response team. They will arrange for the deceased’s body to be collected while taking care of other immediate issues. Following this, suicide cleanup services should be contacted. They can restore the site to a liveable condition, removing any hazards from the area. Cleaning blood and other materials is the last thing that any friend or relative should have to do.
Your feelings towards the home may be damaged forever. But whether you are able to keep living there or feel the need to move, quickly addressing the site is a priority.
Accept The Situation
Suicide is a tragedy always. However, the fact of the matter is that it can’t always be prevented. Nobody ever truly knows what demons a loved one carries with them. If it reached a stage where those emotional scars were simply too much, this was the likely outcome.
It’s a tough pill to swallow, but you have to accept the situation. Denial or trying to convince yourself that the hands of time can be turned back is never healthy. Similarly, you simply cannot afford to fall into the trap of blaming yourself or thinking you could have changed the situation. All this does is put you in an emotional prison of your own. Acceptance is the only way you will ever allow yourself to move on with your life.
Of course, you will never forget the dearly departed. Sadly, though, time stops for nobody. Acknowledging the fact that you can’t change the past is crucial.
Grieve As A Family
While acceptance is important, you still need a chance to grieve. Crucially, you should do this as a family. It is a key step to avoiding isolation. Moreover, helping surviving relatives in this hour of need can soften the blow of having been unable to help the lost loved one.
Dealing with death is never easy, but the shocking nature of this situation makes it even tougher. This only underlines the need to be together as a family. Arranging the perfect send-off for the dearly departed is one of the most important steps. It should be a celebration of their life and incorporate elements linked to who they were as a person. Being united as a family through these arrangements provides a great deal of emotional comfort.
Grieving is a healthy part of coming to terms with the situation. As you support loved ones through the situation, you’ll find that the love is reciprocated to comfort you too.
Seek Professional Support
Losing a loved one to suicide will take a toll on your mental health. Even when you take the right steps to process the situation, it’s OK to accept that you need help. Not least because it can be found in several places to keep you on a more positive pathway.
Speaking with a grief counselor or mental health professional could be particularly effective. If you were the person to discover the deceased loved one, extra support through this emotionally challenging time is also key. It’s good to talk. Conversely, bottling up the heartbreak increases the risk of an eventual breakdown. Even if it doesn’t reach that stage, facing the battle alone will slow your progress.
Nobody wants to feel alone on this journey. So, connecting with others going through similar situations can be very comforting. You can do this at local groups or via online forums.
Establish Positive Routines
Of course, you need time to process the situation and grieve. Still, your lost loved one would not want their death to cause a long-term burden. One of the best things you can do to honor them is living life to the fullest.
The most important aspect is to take care of your health. Overcoming issues with motivation in fitness and healthier nutrition won’t just boost physical health. It has a huge influence on your mental wellness. You also need to develop hobbies and find alternative sources of positivity. When you are able to focus on these rather than the heartache, you will notice the difference in this difficult phase and beyond.
For the best results, you will want to include friends and relatives in these plans. It is a great way to keep them away from negative thoughts or stagnation.
Keep Honoring Their Memory
The pain of losing a loved one to suicide never truly disappears. Still, finding memorable and meaningful ways to honor them can bring comfort over time. Crucially it is a good way to focus your thoughts on the moments shared rather than the painful memories of loss.
There are many ways to keep their memory alive. Starting a charity in their name about a cause they loved is one option. However, simply creating rituals to celebrate their life can be equally rewarding. This is particularly important on special dates, such as their birthday. It is also a good way to ensure that they remain a part of your festive celebrations for many years to come. There is no need to forget them.
It is a difficult time in your life that never truly goes away. When you accept it and respond in a healthy way, though, things will look a little brighter.
