Survivors of Suicide Loss
Survivors of suicide loss (SOS) face a particularly devastating challenge. Here at Ian’s Place, we have a safe place for parents who have lost their children to suicide. To this end, we are here to share our stories, grief, loss, and pain. Above, we give prayers or just pray for anyone grieving the loss of their child to suicide.
Hope and Healing for Survivors of Suicide Loss
Incredible as it sounds, we offer peace, hope, and healing for those affected by suicide. As a survivor of suicide, your challenges are unique. Guilt, confusion, and anger are often the result of this tragedy. As a safe haven for survivors of suicide loss, Ian’s Place welcomes you with love and acceptance.
Without question, the grief you experience in the aftermath of suicide is profound. In many ways, it never leaves.
However, as bereaved parents of lost children, we assure you there is a path to peace.
Eventually, joy, love, and laughter can return to your life. Take it from us—when you come together with others who experience similar loss, you pave the way to heal.
A Way to Replace Blame with Compassion
Often, survivors of suicide loss experience terrible blame. A loving parent has the mistaken belief they are responsible for their child’s decision to commit suicide. As a place that offers a Christian environment for survivors of suicide, we are here to remind parents that, despite human failings, we all do the best we can. Nobody can predict the future. Furthermore, no one has the power to control others.
Let us help you replace self-blame with compassion. When you come together with people who experience similar loss, it becomes possible to move forward with life. Moreover, you can replace blame with compassion. If this sounds impossible, let us assure you that you can escape from the dark place you currently occupy. Through prayer, acceptance, love, and encouragement, Ian’s Place helps survivors of suicide loss find a way forward.
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”—Psalm 147:3
Survivors of Suicide Loss Who Feel Anger
Along with guilt, anger is an emotion that many survivors of suicide loss experience. For many Christians, anger is an uncomfortable emotion. Rather than push this feeling away, we invite you to visit Ian’s Place. As bereaved parents ourselves, we meet you where you are on your journey as a survivor of suicide loss. That means talking freely about your feelings, including anger.
Regardless of whether you are mad at your child, your spouse, yourself, or God, that is normal. Contrary to popular belief, anger is a natural part of the grieving process. Subsequently, we don’t judge survivors of suicide loss who suffer from rage. Instead, we meet, talk, cry, and pray together. It’s at this stage that bereaved parents can begin to let go of anger and start to embrace positive memories and loving thoughts about their child.
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”—Psalm 34:18-19
Survivors of Suicide Loss Who Feel Sad
Often, a terrible sadness accompanies loss. That is especially true with parents whose children have committed suicide. The grief can be so profound that it becomes impossible to imagine any other way of feeling. As bereaved parents ourselves, we want you to reassure you there is a path to hope, healing, and even happiness.
When you gather with people who have experienced similar losses, painful reminders like birthdays and holidays can be openly discussed and grieved. In this way, your sadness can move to acceptance. Eventually, this support brings relief, making these occasions not only bearable, but sources of joy.
Free Yourself from the Agony of “Why”
As bereaved parents of lost children, we understand the impulse to ask why your child committed suicide. But it’s important to remember that suicidal people have a distorted view of the world. As a result, their problems, pain, depression, or addiction may have seemed insurmountable to them. However, that doesn’t mean you need to understand or share their outlook to be a good parent. And even if you can make sense of your child’s decision to commit suicide, that does not changed what happened.
Therefore, it’s critical for survivors of suicide loss to release themselves from the agony “why?”. When you do this, you begin to heal your heart and your life. Of course, you may be on a different point of your grief journey, and that’s perfectly all right. Feel free to reach out and talk with other bereaved parents. Together, we move from despair to comfort to joy.
Survivors of Suicide Loss Who Feel Relief
Together with tremendous grief, many survivors of suicide loss feel relief. Although this reaction is rarely expressed, it is quite common. That’s because many people who commit suicide endure long emotional battles. When death occurs, many parents feel relief that their child’s torment has ended. It’s important to understand this feeling is natural. Moreover, this feeling is a sign of compassion.
At Ian’s Place, we provide a safe haven to talk about uncomfortable emotions like relief. As Christians, we are here to share stories, witness one another’s pain, and pray with one another.
“For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort, too.”—2 Corinthians 1:5.
Encouragement for Survivors of Suicide Loss to Move Forward
For many survivors of suicide loss, the prospect of moving forward inspires guilt. Whether you want to resume work, family life, or creative pursuits, the impulse feels strange. As bereaved parents ourselves, we’re here to tell you there is nothing wrong with a desire to move forward. In fact, we believe that survivors of suicide loss have a right to a new beginning.
Regardless if you are ready to move forward or simply want the reassurance that there is hope for the future, we can help. Contact us to connect with other parents who are grieving the loss of their children. Ian’s Place is a safe haven for survivors of suicide loss. Whether you have recently lost a child to suicide or have been grieving your child’s suicide for years, we are here to listen, mourn, talk, and pray with you.
Ways for Survivors of Suicide Loss to Help Themselves
If you are a survivor of suicide loss who is on the fence about joining a support group, it’s OK. First, let us reassure you that Ian’s Place is a safe space where you can share your grief in a supportive, Christian environment.
Meanwhile, here are some suggestions we can offer to help not only yourself but the child you have lost to suicide.
- Enjoy life.
- Allow yourself to smile and laugh.
- Don’t feel compelled to dwell in sadness and remorse.
- Let yourself love others.
- Start to build a positive new life.
- Help others who have similar losses.
- Don’t let this suicide define you or the world around you.
Of course, it may seem impossible to follow these suggestions for survivors of suicide loss. If that’s the case for you, please don’t hesitate to contact us. In addition, to support groups, we also offer one-on-one consultations and weekly Bible study.
Healing through hope
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We Meet Bereaved Parents Where They Are
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We want to meet you where you are on your journey.
We’ve Been Where You Are
You may not believe you will walk back into the light, but we can walk with you.
Healing Through Hope
With faith, love, and support you will find yourself healing through this journey.