November 30, 2024
Writer: Iris Salvante, CJ Dumaguin
Researcher: Iris Salvante, CJ Dumaguin
Graphics: Mitz D. Sabellano, Jia Moral
Tweet Chat Moderator: Richardson Mojica
Dealing with grief can be one of the darkest hours of life, but imagine those who tragically lost someone. Shock and conflicting emotions like anger and sadness can seem more overwhelming.
As we remember our departed loved ones in November, the global and local advocates of mental health encourage everyone to take part in the International Survivor of Suicide Loss Day, also known as “Survivor Day.”
Held every Saturday before the U.S. Thanksgiving Day, Survivor Day is dedicated to those who have lost their loved ones to suicide. It’s a gathering to share stories of hope, tackle the stigma surrounding suicide and mental health, and honor their loved ones.
Join us on the 30th of November 2024 as we find out the story behind this global event and the meaningful ways we can help the survivors of suicide loss heal and move on. Tara, #UsapTayo!
When did it start?
25 years ago, U.S. Senator Harry Reid who personally experienced a suicide loss presented a resolution to the Senate that expressed the importance of remembering the people who died of suicide and supporting their grieving survivors.
Recognized by Congress, the occasion was set to bring survivors together to find solace and strength in each other before the holiday season—often the most difficult times for the bereaved—until it grew into a worldwide observance.
Organized by The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), the International Survivor of Suicide Loss Day (ISOSLD) has now become a platform, in which survivors connect and share experiences through in-person and virtual events and find resources such as helplines and counseling services to cope with grief.
Hope and Healing: Understanding The Grief
Regardless of the nature of death, no one is ready for a loved one’s passing. While it’s a devastating time, the bereaved may also have to deal with police questions, media intrusion, and the stigma (i.e. personal and religious views) surrounding suicide. These may impact a person’s willingness to share their grief and worst, make them feel isolated.
When we are deeply grieving a catastrophic loss, There are, occasionally, very special everyday people who can provide loving support. They can handle the amount of trauma we’re carrying about, they understand the timelines involved, and they don’t take our persistent sadness, self-destructiveness, anger, or repetitiveness personally. But such people are rare, and because healing stems from connection—this is a large part of why we all need a therapist we can trust.
In Times of Uncertainties: This Shall Pass.
Whether we’re a survivor or not, participating in a nearby event or our community’s (e.g. place of work, school, local government) initiatives to support ISOSLD will provide us awareness that may contribute to a positive change and help save lives from suicide.
The key to healing from traumatic loss is learning to survive our minds and our memories. However, we have to keep in mind that as we do so, we are giving the branches more weight. There comes a time when more thinking, more living in our head, and more attempts to repair ourselves with the same battling brain lead to greater issues. Hence, the tree becomes too unbalanced to support itself without robust roots.
There’s no deadline to process a loss, especially from suicide, but survivors may feel isolated and alone due to the stigma associated with it.
In average, suicide takes more than 700,000 lives yearly. While nations and mental health advocates do their part to raise awareness, do possible interventions, and establish policies to help stop these painful losses, survivors deserve support and respect as they honor the precious lives of their loved ones and bring healing to others.
Trauma gives us so much to contend with in the mind but we need to grow our roots. Grieving and suffering is what allows us to build courage and determination. We need to live and thrive in the world, not just to survive. Times even when we don’t know how, when we don’t feel like it, or when it doesn’t feel real anymore.
Life can be oh-so draining and exhausting but let us learn how to be a bit gentler with ourselves despite the traumatic loss and bereavement. Building a mentally healthy culture can be achieved in large part by promoting autonomy, setting limits, and establishing norms around communication, responsiveness, and urgency. Our future demands a culture change with more vulnerability, compassion, and sustainable ways of connecting.
Because we can. We must.
Session Questions:
- How do you express sympathy for those who lost a loved one to suicide?
- How did you cope with grief? (Something helpful to those who experience suicide loss)
- Share a message of hope for survivors of suicide loss.
References:
- 2024. International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day. Afsp.Org. https://afsp.org/international-survivors-of-suicide-loss-day/
- 2023 November. Survivors of Suicide Loss Day 2024. Uksobs.Org. https://www.awarenessdays.com/awareness-days-calendar/survivors-of-suicide-loss-day-2024/
- Robinson, L. and Smith, M., M.A. Suicide Grief: Coping with a Loved One’s Suicide. HelpGuide.Org. https://www.helpguide.org/mental-health/grief/coping-with-a-loved-ones-suicide
- Patton, Carla Stumpf. 2024 November. International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day. https://www.taps.org/articles/2024/survivor-day#
- Minnesota Department of Health. Support after a Suicide Loss. https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/suicide/basics/suicideloss.html#
