Sacred Updates

Shining a Light on Suicide: Prevention, Support & Grief

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This episode explores how to offer support in regards to suicide prevention. Including signs to look for if someone you know may be suicidal. How self-care while supporting those in need is also important and finally, the journey of emotions and grieving for those of us navigating life after someone we know or love suicides.

I’ve felt compelled to share this topic as a friend and, as practitioner who has helped clients navigate grief and loss. And, also as someone who has experienced the grief of a loved one’s suicide and the after effects of that in the family and daily life.  I have witnessed and experienced firsthand the power of prevention, the power of a conversation, the power of listening and lending a hand, along with the power of self care, professional support and loving kindness.

Together, We Also Explore

A little conversation can make a big difference:

  • Asking are you ok?
  • Active listening
  • Asking “do you need anything?” or “is there anything I can do to help?”
  • Getting out into nature
  • Exercising together
  • Sharing a meal
  • Checking-in
  • Asking Important Questions
  • When something still isn’t right and it doesn’t seem enough – Safety Planning
  • Signs to look for if someone doesn’t seem themselves or ok
  • Crisis – helplines & professional support

Self-Care While Supporting Those in Need or Crisis:

  • Staying in touch with friends and family
  • Taking regular breaks
  • Setting healthy boundaries
  • Sleep
  • Eating well and exercise
  • Emotional and mental support
  • Relaxation
  • Burn out
  • Speaking with employers or guidance for those self-employed
  • Balance, limits and self- awareness

Emotions & Grieving after Suicide

  • Processing & navigating loss in your own way
  • The Seven Stages of Grief & Grief After Suicide
    • Shock/Disbelief
    • Understanding Why
    • Denial
    • Anger & Blame
    • Bargaining
    • Guilt
    • Shame
    • Sadness & Depression
    • Acceptance
  • Adjustments and life after – from darkness to new light

Stella Excerpt

Shining the Light on how we can better love and support those we care about today and every day is something we can become more aware of and ideally proactive with. This includes supporting those struggling with life challenges, be them mental or otherwise, and also those who are in positions of care or support roles.

Takeaway Gem

A gift of grief is that it makes us tender to the suffering of others. We can become more empathetic, compassionate, kind and loving. We can also become more aware, open, conscious. Even motivated to a point where you may be inspired to be an advocate, speaking up and broadening your supportive roles to ensure suicide prevention, mental health and support at all stages of related crisis are spoken of and better understood. All the better we as a collective, as a humanity, can help each other in times of darkness and challenge. For we are all in this together.

For those navigating these challenges you may also find these previous podcast episodes helpful;

Ep. 19 ‘Loss & Death; A Sacred Transformation’

Ep. 26 ‘Self Care for Depression and Dark Times

In Light & Love of the Soul, Elise | S*M

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