JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and one of the most difficult things anyone can face is losing a loved one to suicide.
According to the CDC, nearly 49,000 people died by suicide in 2023, and one person dies from it every 11 minutes.
Dozens of people can be directly affected by the heaviness of survivor’s guilt, wondering, “What could I have done differently?”
In fact, when a parent loses a child, the risk of dying by suicide increases for the parent.
Survivor’s guilt can become a vicious cycle that leads to constant self-questioning and wondering if they could have prevented the death.
But Dupont Counseling has some steps to take during the healing process.
First, start by remembering that suicide is never caused by one moment or action. It’s complex mental health struggles that nobody can control.
Second, switch the focus from self-blame to self-forgiveness. Instead of asking “What could I have done differently?” ask, “How can I honor their memory?”
“Having self-compassion, making sure those daily tasks like eating and drinking and making a new routine after the loss of that person. It’s really hard to say how long. Everyone’s grief process is very different. No one person’s process and journey will look exactly the same,” Director of Clinical Services Lorna Wittenrich said.
Help is always available if you need it. Call or text the suicide and crisis lifeline at 988, which is available 24/7.
MORE | Suicide Prevention: List of resources available in Florida
Dupont Counseling Group is also a local resource available. Their phone number is 904-394-5706, and they are located at 8540 Baycenter Road in Jacksonville.