Suicide Survivors

Sui­cide Loss Sup­port Groups |Web­sites | Cri­sis Help Lines | Books

People who have lost a loved one to suicide

When someone you love dies by suicide, it is common to have many different emotions. You may feel some or all of these emotions as time passes. You should also keep in mind that any emotion you feel is appropriate—there is no right or wrong way to feel. Nor is there a time line for coping with suicide. Everyone is different. The emotions and the time it takes to deal with a suicide is unique for everyone—even people in the same family. It is tragic when people struggling with such raw emotions feel criticized for not doing it the “right” way or in the “right” time frame. The point at which a person feels as if he/she is able to resume a “normal” routine varies and is part of the grieving process. IT DOES NOT indicate how much a survivor misses the person who has died, nor is it a measure of how much they loved the person who died by suicide. Be gentle with yourself and allow yourself the time to grieve this tragic loss. Don’t be fearful of asking for what you need, whether it’s to talk, to go out, or just having somebody around. Suicide grief is complicated and requires a lot of support and active grieving.

It is estimated that there is about 5 million Americans who have become survivors of suicide during the past 25 years. You are not alone! We have resources to help with the grieving process.

Suicide Loss Support Groups

BOSTON AREA

Samaritans, Inc.
41 West Street, 4th Floor
Boston,MA 02111
www.samaritanshope.org
617-536-2460, Ext. 2237

After Suicide
41 Concord Square
Boston, MA 02118
617-837-7668

Focus Counseling
186 ½ Hampshire Street
Cambridge, MA
www.focuscounseling.com
617-876-4488, Ext. 52

After Suicide Program
Suite 414
850 Boylston Street (Route 9)
Chestnut Hill, MA 02167
617-738-7688

First Parish Church in Norwell
24 River Street
781-740-8309

 

CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS

The Samaritans of Cape Cod & The Islands
Safe Place
65 Town Square
Falmouth, MA 02541
www.capesamaritans.org
508-548-7999

 

CENTRAL

Heywood Hospital

242 Green Street

Gardner, MA 01440

978-630-6378

Safe Place in Worcester
The Bridge
4 Mann Street
Worcester, MA
917-536-2460

Sturbridge Group
Family Loss Project
249 Ayer Road, Suite 204
Harvard, MA 01451
www.sturbridgegroup.com
508-653-1609

MERRIMACK VALLEY/NORTHEAST

 

Carrying On

Parish House of the First Parish Unitarian Church

Powder House Row

Groton, MA

contact Steve Boczenowski at boczeno@gmail.com – 978-448-5013

 

 

Littleton Survivor Group
First Church Unitarian
19 Foster Street
www.seeanewsun.org
978-486-4928

Samaritans of Merrimack Valley
A program of Family Service, Inc.
430 North Canal Street
Lawrence, MA 01840
www.familyserviceinc.com

978-327-6671

NEW SAFE PLACE SUPPORT GROUP OPENING IN BEVERLY

Safe Place in Beverly – First meeting is 12/1/11

St. John’s Episcopal Church

705 Hale Street

Beverly, MA  01915

Safe Place in Lowell
Centralville United Methodist Church
800 Bridge Street
Lowell, MA 01930

Safe Place in North Andover
St. Michael Parish
196 Main Street
North Andover, MA 01845

 

METROWEST

The Samaritans, Inc. (Framingham Center)
235 Walnut Street
Framingham, MA 01702
www.samaritanshope.org
508-872-1780

SOUTHEAST

Samaritans of Fall River/New Bedford
627 State Road
Route 6
Westport, MA 02790
www.samaritans-fallriver.org
508-673-3777

Safe Place in Quincy
Facilitate by The Samaritans, Inc.
Quincy Medical Center
114 Whitwell Street
Quincy, MA

 

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Websites

Massachusetts

Samaritans, Inc. –
www.samaritanshope.org

Samaritans of Merrimack Valley –
www.familyserviceinc.com/Samaritans of www.samaritansmv.com

Samaritans of Cape Cod and the Islands –
www.capesamaritans.org

Samaritans of Fall River/New Bedford –
www.smaritans-fallriver.org

See A New Sun Foundation –
www.sans.org

National

American Association of Suicidology –
www.suicidology.org

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention –
www.afsp.org

Suicide Prevention Action Network –
www.spanusa.org

Suicide Prevention Resource Center –
www.sprc.org

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Crisis Help Lines

Massachusetts

Samaritans Statewide:
1-877-870-4673

Samaritans, Inc.:
617-247-0220 and 508-875-4500 (Framingham)

Samaritans of Cape & the Islands:
1-800-893-9900

Samaritans of Fall River/New Bedford:
1-508-673-3777

Samaritans of Merrimack Valley:
1-866-921-4673 or 978-327-6607

National

National Hopeline Network:
1-800-784-2433

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline:
1-800-273-TALK (8255)

Trevor Help Line for LGBT:
1-866-488-7386

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Books

  • A Guide for the Bereaved Survivor by Robert Baugher and Marc Calija
  • Suicide Survivors-A Guide for Those Left Behind by Adina Wrobleski
  • After Suicide by John Hewitt
  • Child Survivors of Suicide: A Guidebook for Those Who Care for Them by Rebecca Parkin
  • Healing After the Suicide of a Loved One by Ann Smolin and John Guinan
  • After Suicide:A Ray of Hope by Eleanora Ross
  • In The Wake of Suicide:Stories of the People Left Behind by Victoria Alexandria
  • Silent Grief: Living in the Wake of Suicide by Christopher Lukas and Henry Seiden
  • Grief After Suicide by John R. Jordan and John L. McIntosh
  • Why People Die By Suicide by Thomas Jiner
  • No Time to Say Goodbye by Carla Fine
  • Someone I Love Died by Suicide by Doreen Cammarata
  • Dying to Be Free by Beverly Cobain and Jean Larch

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