Suicide also inflicts an emotional wound.  If social support is absent, the pain of grief can intensify and delay the healing process.  With suicide, the victim is also the perpetrator and this intensifies the pain and can hinder healing.  A strong loving support system is crucial to healing.     

Those who experience the death of a loved one by suicide may experience heightened feelings of guilt, shame, blame, anger or fear.  There is an added (unjustified) stigma associated with the loss by suicide that often denies the family the comfort of social support.

Special tips for moving through grief due to suicide:

• A strong social support system in invaluable.
• Allow persons whom you know and trust to help.

A support group specific to survivors of suicide may also help.