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Practical matters

 

After someone dies many practical matters must be sorted out - friends and family can be a great help. After Stephen’s wife died he found it very helpful to have his brother in the house, who told others what had happened and who, with the help of friends, managed ‘everything’.

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• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to suicide >> Lost a partner, husband or wife >> Jenny - Interview 1 >> Jenny found that officials reacted best when she opened the conversation by acknowledging that they might not know what to say when she told them abou

Jenny’s husband had had episodes of depression. In 2007 he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Five days later he took his own life. Jenny has had support from family, friends, the WAY foundation and Cruse. Her baby is also a great comfort to her.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to suicide >> Lost a partner, husband or wife >> Stephen - Interview 31 >> Stephen appreciated help with practical matters. His brother acted as his secretary, and friends came round with food for him and his daughters.

In June 2006 Stephen returned home to find his wife, Gill, hanging in the hallway. She had been diagnosed with severe depression. Stephen found help from family, friends & Cruse. His daughters have been helped by the Charity, See Saw.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to suicide >> Lost a partner, husband or wife >> Melanie - Interview 21 >> The broadband provider refused to speak to Melanie. The person concerned insisted on talking to the account holder even though Melanie explained that

In 2006 Melanie’s husband, Simon, took his own life while the “balance of his mind was disturbed.” He jumped to his death. Melanie and her three young children were devastated. They have found help via counselling, support groups and the internet

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to suicide >> Lost a child >> Alex - Interview 3 >> Alex found that almost all organisations were efficient and sensitive, but one company failed to reply to letters. Eventually the Chairman sent a repl

Felicity and Alex had a daughter, Alice, who diagnosed with depression and then bipolar disorder. In 2004, aged 22, she killed herself. Alex felt that the role he took supporting others helped him to cope with the “fearful shock” of her suicide.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to suicide >> Lost a partner, husband or wife >> Jacqui - Interview 30 >> Jacqui found the insurance companies very frustrating. Some officials asked to speak to the policy holder even though she had told them that Mike had

Jacqui’s husband, Mike, had had mental health problems for some time. In 2006 Jacqui came home to find that Mike had died by suicide. He had hung himself. Jacqui has had counselling and has started her own email support group, Widowed by Suicide Support.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to suicide >> Lost a brother or sister >> Steve - Interview 25 >> Utility companies had to be informed. Steve made a copy of his sister’s interim death certificate and sent a standard letter. Some companies wanted a

Steve’s sister took her own life in 2006. She stepped in front of a train. She had had mental health problems for many years but was not receiving the care she needed at the time of her death. Steve was devastated. He has found most support from SOBS.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to suicide >> Lost a child >> Bob - Interview 17 >> After Bob’s son died the insurance company refused to pay to bring him home or to bring his car back from France because the policy had a clause that

In 1998 Bob’s son, Darren, died while on holiday in France. He died by hanging and the French police were sure it was suicide. Bob and his wife were shocked. They have found support via Compassionate Friends, SOBS and the internet group Parents of Suicide.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to suicide >> Lost a child >> Susan - Interview 20 >> Two years after Rose died Susan started to clear up her room and sort out her things. She found diaries and journals that ‘tore her apart’.

In 2005, Susan’s daughter, Rose, took her own life. She shot herself. Rose had had anorexia and then depression, and was later thought to have bipolar disorder. Susan feels angry because she believes that NHS psychiatric services were inadequate.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to suicide >> Lost a child >> Bob - Interview 17 >> Bob says that others should never expect him and his wife to be the same as before, and that sudden decisions should be avoided for the first 12 month

In 1998 Bob’s son, Darren, died while on holiday in France. He died by hanging and the French police were sure it was suicide. Bob and his wife were shocked. They have found support via Compassionate Friends, SOBS and the internet group Parents of Suicide.