Tackling the Unseen Wound | Coping After Losing Someone to Suicide

I have been known to say that everyone who walks this earth is a very brave soul. Life here is not easy, and for some, it becomes impossible. Most of us either have or will lose someone to suicide. When this happens, it can be devastating to those who are left behind. Stumbling through a maze of unanswered questions and emotions is a gut punch that leaves us reeling, trying to figure out how to deal with the aftermath.

The natural sadness we feel in losing our person is complicated by shock when we realize that we had no idea that they were battling mental struggles to this degree. The issues they are facing are hidden beneath smiles and daily routines, thanks in part to the heavy stigma around mental health. Not all illness is visible, yet we can't help but set standards of how we think the situation should have played out. Still, this doesn't discount the care and love we had for the person we lost.

When someone takes their own life, we feel like helpless bystanders and are greeted with a rollercoaster of emotions—sadness, confusion, anger, and guilt. Questions swirl. Could we have done something to stop it? Did we miss the signs? Why the hell didn't they ask for help? Or simply, what the fuck, how could you do this to us? Closure might feel like a myth.

Seeking support from friends, family, or a professional is now essential for our mental well-being and becomes our life jacket in this unstable sea. Turn to your communities, peers, mental health groups and trusted confidants for a safe space to vent and deal with the chaos. Healing is a slow burn that demands patience, self-love, and time. Finding ways to honour the lost while picking up the pieces is part of the process. It is totally okay to take it slow and lean on others.

The need for candid discussions about mental health is becoming paramount, especially in a world that has become more and more challenging for people and pushing them to extremes. When the unthinkable happens, let's not sweep it under the rug; instead, let's bring it out into the light and break the stigma of seeking help.

Healing after losing someone to suicide isn't a solo gig. By fostering communities that support one another and encourage mental health awareness, we build spaces where seeking help isn't taboo. In our collective resilience, we find hope, strength, and a shot at peace and meaning after the storm.

Please visit the links below if you or someone you know is struggling.

Mental health support: get help - Canada.ca
Suicide Prevention - HelpGuide.org