Bereavement due to suicide

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Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to suicide >> Lost a child >> Alex - Interview 3 >> A year after Alice died Alex and Felicity asked a sculptor to carve a headstone. One of their sons helped with design. A few of the family gathered wh

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 child >> Amanda - Interview 5 >> Amanda didn’t like the headstones suggested by the funeral director. She found a letter cutter who made a special one for Lori, made of riven slate, w

In 2005 Amanda’s son, Lori, took his own life. He was 21. Amanda thinks that sexual abuse may have been a reason for his suicide. She has found support via family, friends, church, internet [POS], Compassionate Friends, Papyrus, and psychotherapy.

Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to suicide >> Lost a friend >> Ann - Interview 10 >> A church funeral was followed by cremation. After the cremation Ann found it very comforting to return to the crematorium, to walk around, and to reme

Ann’s friend died in 2003. It appears that her friend died from an overdose and exposure. Ann has found support through her faith in God, from counselling & from her GP. She has set up a support group for others, linked to SOBS. She finds this comforting.

Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to suicide >> Lost a child >> Lucreta - Interview 39 >> After the funeral Dominique was cremated and her ashes scattered. Lucreta used to visit the church garden regularly, but doesn’t feel the need to spen

In 1996, Lucreta’s daughter, Dionne (also called Dominique), jumped to her death. She was 18 when she died. Lucreta had no idea that Dionne had been so unhappy, and was shocked by her death. Lucreta has found support from friends, her church, her GP, and counsellors.

Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to suicide >> Lost a child >> Barbara - Interview 23 >> Barbara feels that the decision to scatter Matt’s ashes in the crematorium garden was made too quickly. She wishes they had put them with the tree the

Barbara & Colin’s son, Matt, found his first job as a junior doctor very stressful. In 1992 Matt was found dead in a crashed car; probably due to suicide. He was aged 24. Colin & Barbara were devastated.

Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to suicide >> Lost a child >> Jane - Interview 13 >> Jane and Maurice marked Tom’s grave with a small stone. Jane wishes the stone were bigger to allow a longer inscription. They also put a seat in the c

In 1984 Jane and Maurice’s son Tom took his own life by hanging. Jane and Maurice were shocked and devastated. Jane found support from friends. Counselling and a support group were also helpful.

Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to suicide >> Lost a child >> Linda - Interview 35 >> The funeral director helped Linda and her family to find a stonemason, who showed them a booklet showing different gravestones. When the stone arrived

In 2005 Linda’s 13 year old daughter took her own life. Linda and her family were shocked. Linda still feels devastated, but more in control, and is back at work. She has found help thought a psychologist and has attended a SOBS conference.

Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to suicide >> Lost a child >> Bob - Interview 17 >> Bob and Lynda put up a headstone which ‘summed up Darren’s life’. They visit their son’s grave about once a week and look after the plot because it’s

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 parent >> Rachel - Interview 15 >> Rachel wants to change her mother’s headstone so that her mother is remembered in a positive light. She does not like visiting the grave because the i

In 1981 Rachel’s mother took her own life. She was probably ill with depression when she used a gun to kill herself. Rachel was 15 at the time and was not offered any professional support. Since then she has had some counselling, which has been helpful.

Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to suicide >> Lost a child >> Susan - Interview 20 >> When Rose died, Susan donated money to help build a school in Africa in memory of her daughter. Susan also plans to commission a headstone for the chu

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 >> Barbara - Interview 23 >> Barbara felt she could communicate with Matt by writing notes to him, and she says a prayer at night.

Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to suicide >> Lost a child >> Susan - Interview 8 >> Having a tattoo with her son’s names was a personal way of remembering them. She and her husband often visit their memorial bench in the churchyard.

Two of Susan’s sons have taken their own lives by hanging. Barry died in 1995 and Stephen died in April 2006. Susan has had support from various sources. She is still grieving but feels she must “move on” for the sake of her other children.

Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to suicide >> Lost a child >> Bob - Interview 17 >> Bob and Lynda always stamp a butterfly and write Darren’s name onto every card they send out. They want to keep Darren’s memory alive.

The headstone or other memorial

The headstone or other memorial

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