Suicide Prevention Month: How Grief Support Saves Lives
September is Suicide Prevention Month, a topic we care deeply about at Help Texts. We're known worldwide for the support we provide to people grieving a suicide loss, but what people often don't know is that people who are grieving the death of a loved one are themselves at higher risk for suicide. So today we want to highlight the crucial role that postvention (aka grief support) plays in prevention. Bereavement care saves lives.
Understanding Suicide's Impact
Grief after suicide is uniquely challenging, often accompanied by intense feelings of guilt, shame, anger, shock, and often a lot of unanswered questions. The societal stigma surrounding suicide can further complicate the grieving process, increasing feelings of isolation and loneliness. The ripple effect of a single suicide is profound, affecting an average of 135 people (Cerel et al., 2018). These individuals may face increased risk of mental health challenges and suicidal thoughts themselves. Some research suggests that those bereaved by suicide have a suicide risk up to 3x higher than the general population (Jang et al., 2022). Additionally, 25% of young people who die by suicide had been previously or recently bereaved (Rodway et al., 2022).
The Importance of Postvention
While prevention often focuses on education, awareness, and immediate intervention, postvention is equally vital. Postvention refers to support provided to those bereaved by suicide loss and is something our team at Help Texts is deeply committed to making available to anyone grieving the suicide of a loved one. Help Texts for Grief includes a full year of personalized texts designed to provide comfort, understanding, and coping strategies for those grieving a suicide loss. This year we also launched Help Texts for Health & Well-being, a service that offers tips and resources for well-being, with discreet add-on options for people struggling to cope with thoughts of suicide.
Remember, if someone is actively suicidal, stay with them, remove lethal means, and secure extra support. If you or someone you love needs immediate support, call or text 988 in the US, text 741741, or call local warmlines or hotlines in your area. You're not alone.