It’s important to educate yourself about grief and mourning in general, as well as grief and mourning from the perspective of the survivors of suicide loss.

While there are some things you should NOT say to someone who is bereaved (see resources below), it is probably worse not to say or do anything at all. Suicide and suicide loss come with a great deal of stigma and blame, which often isolates those who are grieving. Beginning with a statement like, “I am so sorry for your loss” is a good opening. Doing nothing adds to that stigma, sense of blame, and isolation. Grief needs a witness.

Some of the BEST things you can do are to:

• Approach the person who is grieving the death
• Acknowledge the loss and validate the grief
• Offer practical assistance with chores and tasks that need to be done
• Say the name of the deceased
• Share a memory you have of the person who died

Chances are, these are exactly the things you would do for someone who experienced a loss from cancer, heart attack, accident, or any other death. Survivors simply want you to treat them with the same compassion you would treat any other type of death.