Suicide Stigma
Beyond Stigma: Navigating the Path of Healing After a Family Suicide
When a family member dies by suicide, it leaves a wake of intense pain, confusion, and often, stigma. These feelings are real and very powerful. However, we're here to tell you that you're not alone, and that it's okay to seek help. In fact, it's vital.
Research shows that people who have lost a loved one to suicide can feel a complex mix of emotions. They can experience guilt, anger, and deep sadness. They may also feel shame because of societal stigma around suicide[^1^].
Central Florida has many resources that can help surviving family members cope with such a tragic loss. **Heart of Florida United Way**[^2^] provides links to various mental health resources, including those specifically for suicide loss survivors. The **Central Florida Suicide Bereavement Support Group**[^3^] offers a safe space for survivors to share their stories and receive emotional support. **The Victim Service Center of Central Florida**[^4^] provides free counseling for those affected by traumatic events, including suicide.
These resources are here to help you on your healing journey. Remember, it's okay to grieve and it's okay to ask for help. Everyone deals with loss differently, and it's important to take care of your mental health during this difficult time.
As a society, we need to work together to eliminate the stigma around suicide and mental health issues. Stigma only isolates those in pain, making it harder for them to reach out for help. We must become a community of empathy and resilience, recognizing that everyone faces struggles and deserves compassion and understanding.
Our vision is to build a stigma-free community where no one feels ashamed to talk about their pain or seek help. A community of world-changers who not only receive second chances but also extend them to others. Because everyone deserves a second chance.
In this journey of creating a stigma-free society, your role is critical. Start by being kind and understanding, and don't hesitate to seek help when you need it. After all, it's in our unity, compassion, and shared strength that we can rise again.
Together, we can overcome. Together, we can rise.
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[^1^]: Cerel, J., Maple, M., van de Venne, J., Brown, M., Moore, M., & Flaherty, C. (2019). Exposure to suicide in the community: Prevalence and correlates in one U.S. State. Public Health Reports, 133(1), 100-107.
[^2^]: Heart of Florida United Way. (2023). Mental Health Resources. Retrieved from https://www.hfuw.org/mental-health-resources/.
[^3^]: Central Florida Suicide Bereavement Support Group. (2023). Retrieved from https://www.meetup.com/Central-Florida-Suicide-Bereavement-Support-Group/.
[^4^]: Victim Service Center of Central Florida. (2023). Retrieved from https://www.victimservicecenter.org/.