International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day: A Day to Remember, Honor, and Hold Space

International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day is set aside each year as a moment to recognize those whose lives have been forever changed by losing someone to suicide. It is a day marked not by slogans or simple answers, but by the quiet courage of people carrying a form of grief that is often complex, intimate, and deeply misunderstood.

This day is meaningful to me both personally and professionally, and I approach it with deep respect for the unique weight it carries.

If you are a survivor of suicide loss, this day honors the love you still carry, the questions that linger, and the resilience it takes to keep moving forward.

The Unique Weight of Suicide Loss

Grief after suicide is unlike any other. It often holds layers of shock, guilt, confusion, anger, and a longing to understand what feels unexplainable. Many survivors describe:

• Why questions that seem impossible to resolve

• Sudden emotional waves surfacing months or years later

• A sense of isolation, unsure who can understand

• Conflicted feelings, including love, sadness, and anger

• Spiritual questions, especially when faith meets sorrow

None of these reactions mean you’re grieving “wrong.” They reflect the depth of your relationship and the magnitude of your loss.

What Survivors Often Need Most

Most survivors don’t need quick solutions. They need:

• Space to tell their story

• People who can listen without judgment

• Gentle routines that offer steadiness

• Permission to honor their loved one in ways that feel right

• Support from others who understand this specific form of grief

For many, faith becomes a source of comfort. For others, it becomes a place of wrestling. Both responses are part of being human.

Honoring Your Loved One

International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day can be a meaningful time to honor your loved one in a way that feels personal and grounding. You might consider:

• Lighting a candle at home

• Visiting a place that brings peace

• Listening to a meaningful song or reading a comforting passage

• Writing a letter to your loved one or to your future self

• Connecting with someone who shares a similar loss

Simple, intentional acts can bring warmth to a day that otherwise feels heavy.

When Support Helps

Therapy can offer a steady, contained space to process the layers of trauma and grief that suicide loss often brings. Trauma-informed counseling and EMDR can support survivors as they work through painful memories, rebuild safety, and move toward long-term healing.

I provide in-person counseling in Gilbert, AZ, and secure telehealth therapy for adults anywhere in Arizona or Idaho.

A Final Word of Compassion

If you are reading this as a survivor, please know this: you are not alone. Your grief is valid. Your love is lasting. And your story, even in its difficult chapters, holds deep value.

International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day is a reminder that your loss deserves acknowledgment, your healing deserves space, and your life still holds meaning and hope.