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Helpful guide for after a suicide.

Whether you have lost someone to suicide or you have someone in your life that has lost someone to suicide. We have created this guide for the top questions we get asked daily.

"(Name) just lost (Name) to suicide, what do I say, how do I help them? Do you have any resources or information about what I should or shouldn't say? I'm not sure how to help, can you help me?

Crisis Resources

wrist with tattoos of suicide sucks and suicide awareness ribbon image

Because we aren't trying to reinvent the wheel

And we are lucky to collaborate with some amazing other nonprofits and have been given permission to share AFSP After a Suicide Brochure.

What to and not to do or say...

Planting Seeds

A loss to suicide can be very overwhelming with a lot of confusion.
We are planting seeds letting the person know you're there when they are ready to talk. No need to pressure to talk.

Don't

Don't talk about the means or the how. We want to leave this out of the conversation as this can re-traumatize the person, but also this tells people how to complete the act and that is not what we want to do.
It's okay to ask questions, if the person is not ready to talk they will tell you, but it might also be a relief to have someone listen.

Do

Ask if they want to talk and simply listen.
Send reminders that you're there when they are ready to talk.
Be honest about how they died, it is better to have open conversations vs. trying to "hide" the how.

Other great resources

AFSP

We are NOT a crisis line.
Need immediate support:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Dial or text: 988 in the U.S.A. or 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

Safe 2 Tell Colorado 1-877-542-7233
Crisis Text Line "HOME" to 741-741

Helpful guide for after a suicide.

Because we aren't trying to reinvent the wheel

What to and not to do or say...

Planting Seeds

Don't

Do

Other great resources

We are NOT a crisis line. Need immediate support:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Dial or text: 988 in the U.S.A. or 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

Safe 2 Tell Colorado 1-877-542-7233 Crisis Text Line "HOME" to 741-741

Helpful guide for after a suicide.

Because we aren't trying to reinvent the wheel

What to and not to do or say...

Planting Seeds

Don't

Do

Other great resources

We are NOT a crisis line.
Need immediate support:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Dial or text: 988 in the U.S.A. or 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

Safe 2 Tell Colorado 1-877-542-7233
Crisis Text Line "HOME" to 741-741