15th Annual International Survivors of Suicide Day

Suicide rates in the United States have been increasing dramatically since 2006. According to the Centers for Disease Control there is one suicide every 14.2 minutes in the United States which equals over 101 completed suicides daily. It is also important to understand that there are at least 6 people directly affected by each suicide. These individuals are suicide survivors.

Survivors of suicide have endured one of the most horrific ordeals possible in the human experience. The death of a loved one by suicide triggers a roller coaster ride of emotions that are unlike any other. Along with grieving the loss of a loved one, survivors of suicide often experience feelings of guilt, anger, resentment, failure, remorse, confusion and stigma.

These feelings may also cause survivors to feel isolated or alone in their grief. Losing a loved one to suicide is different than losing a loved one as the result of a disease or a tragic accident. With suicide the person has actually chosen death. People don