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Seven Common Post-Suicide Strategies

  • Writer: David "Joe" Sanders
    David "Joe" Sanders
  • 2 days ago
  • 5 min read

Grief after a suicide loss is often described as one of the most complex and painful forms of bereavement. Alongside deep sadness, people may experience guilt, anger, confusion, or even a sense of abandonment. It’s also common for survivors to face mental health challenges such as Depression, Anxiety, or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Because of this layered emotional impact, treatment often involves a combination of approaches tailored to the individual. There is not a one size fits all.

Grief after a suicide loss is often described as one of the most complex and painful forms of bereavement. Alongside deep sadness, people may experience guilt, anger, confusion, or even a sense of abandonment. It’s also common for survivors to face mental health challenges such as Depression, Anxiety, or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Because of this layered emotional impact, treatment often involves a combination of approaches tailored to the individual. There is not a one size fits all.


Below is an overview of several evidence-based treatments, including what to expect, timelines, and the pros and cons of each.


1. Individual Therapy (Talk Therapy)


One of the most common and effective treatments for suicide grief is individual therapy. This typically involves working one-on-one with a licensed therapist trained in grief or trauma. Common Approaches Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Complicated Grief Therapy (CGT) Trauma-focused therapy What to Expect Sessions usually occur weekly and last 45–60 minutes. Early sessions focus on building trust and understanding your loss. Over time, therapy may address distorted thoughts (like guilt and blame), emotional regulation, and meaning.

One of the most common and effective treatments for suicide grief is individual therapy. This typically involves working one-on-one with a licensed therapist trained in grief or trauma.


Common Approaches

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

  • Complicated Grief Therapy (CGT)

  • Trauma-focused therapy


What to Expect

Sessions usually occur weekly and last 45–60 minutes. Early sessions focus on building trust and understanding your loss. Over time, therapy may address distorted thoughts (like guilt and blame), emotional regulation, and meaning.

Timeline

  • Short-term: 8–12 weeks for initial progress

  • Long-term: Several months to a year for deeper healing

Pros

  • Personalized and confidential

  • Addresses co-occurring conditions like depression or PTSD

  • Helps process complex emotions safely

Cons

  • Can be emotionally intense

  • May take time to find the right therapist

  • Cost can be a barrier without insurance


2. Group Therapy and Support Groups


Support groups specifically for suicide loss survivors can be incredibly powerful. These may be led by therapists or peer facilitators. This is my personal favorite form of therapy, still not for everyone. What to Expect Participants share their experiences in a structured environment. Hearing others’ stories often reduces feelings of isolation and stigma. Timeline Ongoing; many people attend for months or even years Benefits often begin after a few sessions Pros Strong sense of community and validation Less expensive (sometimes free) Helps normalize emotions Cons Less individualized attention May feel overwhelming at first Group dynamics vary in quality

Support groups specifically for suicide loss survivors can be incredibly powerful. These may be led by therapists or peer facilitators. This is my personal favorite form of therapy, still not for everyone.

What to Expect

Participants share their experiences in a structured environment. Hearing others’ stories often reduces feelings of isolation and stigma.

Timeline

  • Ongoing; many people attend for months or even years

  • Benefits often begin after a few sessions

Pros

  • Strong sense of community and validation

  • Less expensive (sometimes free)

  • Helps normalize emotions

Cons

  • Less individualized attention

  • May feel overwhelming at first

  • Group dynamics vary in quality


3. Medication (Psychiatric Treatment)


For some individuals, especially those experiencing clinical depression, anxiety, or PTSD, medication may be recommended. Common Medications Antidepressants (e.g., SSRIs) Anti-anxiety medications What to Expect A psychiatrist or primary care provider evaluates symptoms and prescribes medication if appropriate. Regular follow-ups are needed to monitor effectiveness and side effects.

For some individuals, especially those experiencing clinical depression, anxiety, or PTSD, medication may be recommended.

Common Medications

  • Antidepressants (e.g., SSRIs)

  • Anti-anxiety medications

What to Expect

A psychiatrist or primary care provider evaluates symptoms and prescribes medication if appropriate. Regular follow-ups are needed to monitor effectiveness and side effects.

Timeline

  • 2–6 weeks to notice effects

  • Several months or longer for full stabilization

Pros

  • Can significantly reduce severe symptoms

  • Improves ability to engage in therapy

  • Helpful for sleep and anxiety regulation

Cons

  • Possible side effects (e.g., nausea, fatigue)

  • Trial-and-error process to find the right medication

  • Does not address grief directly


4. Trauma-Focused Therapies


Because suicide loss can be traumatic, some individuals develop PTSD symptoms such as intrusive memories or avoidance. Common Methods Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) What to Expect These therapies help reprocess distressing memories so they become less emotionally overwhelming. EMDR, for example, uses guided eye movements while recalling traumatic events.

Because suicide loss can be traumatic, some individuals develop PTSD symptoms such as intrusive memories or avoidance.

Common Methods

  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

  • Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

What to Expect

These therapies help reprocess distressing memories so they become less emotionally overwhelming. EMDR, for example, uses guided eye movements while recalling traumatic events.

Timeline

  • 6–12 sessions for targeted trauma work

  • May be integrated into longer-term therapy

Pros

  • Can be effective for PTSD symptoms

  • Can reduce emotional intensity of memories

  • Often faster results than general talk therapy for trauma

Cons

  • Emotionally demanding

  • Not suitable for everyone, especially at early stages of grief

  • Requires trained specialists



5. Family Therapy


Suicide loss often impacts entire families, sometimes leading to blame, communication breakdown, or unresolved conflict. What to Expect Family members attend sessions together with a therapist to improve communication, process shared grief, and rebuild trust. Can lead to shared resolutions.

Suicide loss often impacts entire families, sometimes leading to blame, communication breakdown, or unresolved conflict.

What to Expect

Family members attend sessions together with a therapist to improve communication, process shared grief, and rebuild trust. Can lead to shared resolutions.

Timeline

  • Weekly or biweekly sessions for several months. Depends heavily on individual family needs.

Pros

  • Addresses relational dynamics

  • Helps families support one another

  • Reduces isolation within the family unit

Cons

  • Requires willingness from multiple participants

  • Can bring old and new conflicts to the surface

  • Scheduling coordination can be challenging


 


6. Holistic and Complementary Approaches


Many people find additional healing through non-clinical practices that support emotional and physical well-being. Examples Mindfulness and meditation Yoga Art or music therapy Journaling What to Expect These practices can be done independently or alongside professional treatment. They often focus on calming the nervous system and expressing emotions creatively.

Many people find additional healing through non-clinical practices that support emotional and physical well-being.

Examples

  • Mindfulness and meditation

  • Yoga

  • Art or music therapy

  • Journaling

What to Expect

These practices can be done independently or alongside professional treatment. They often focus on calming the nervous system and expressing emotions creatively.

Timeline

  • Benefits may be felt immediately (e.g., relaxation)

  • Deeper impact builds over weeks or months

Pros

  • Accessible and flexible

  • Enhances overall well-being

  • Can be empowering and self-directed

Cons

  • Not a substitute for professional care in severe cases

  • Requires consistency

  • Effects may be subtle or gradual



7. Crisis Support and Hotlines

In moments of acute distress, immediate support is critical. What to Expect Crisis lines (such as the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the U.S.) provide 24/7 confidential support via phone, chat, or text. Timeline Immediate, short-term support Pros Available anytime Free and confidential Can de-escalate crisis situations Cons Not a long-term treatment solution Quality of interaction may vary

In moments of acute distress, immediate support is critical.

What to Expect

Crisis lines (such as the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the U.S.) provide 24/7 confidential support via phone, chat, or text.

Timeline

  • Immediate, short-term support

Pros

  • Available anytime

  • Free and confidential

  • Can de-escalate crisis situations

Cons

  • Not a long-term treatment solution

  • Quality of interaction may vary


What Healing Looks Like


Grief after suicide does not follow a linear path. Many people move through waves of intense emotion interspersed with periods of relative calm. It’s also common for symptoms of depression, anxiety, or PTSD to emerge weeks or even months after the loss and last for decades.

Grief after suicide does not follow a linear path. Many people move through waves of intense emotion interspersed with periods of relative calm. It’s also common for symptoms of depression, anxiety, or PTSD to emerge weeks or even months after the loss and last for decades.

Over time, with support and treatment:

  • Intense emotions often become more manageable

  • Guilt and self-blame can soften or go and come.

  • Acceptance of unanswered questions.

There is no “set” timeline for healing. Some people notice improvement within a few weeks, while for others, the process unfolds over a lifetime. What matters most is finding the right combination of support systems and allowing yourself space to grieve at your own pace.


Final Thoughts

Losing someone to suicide is a uniquely painful experience that can challenge one’s sense of reality, identity, and connection. While no treatment can erase the loss, many approaches can help individuals navigate the grief, reduce associated mental health symptoms, and rebuild a meaningful life. Timely beginning the commitment to healing is recommended.

If you or someone you know is struggling, reaching out—whether to a therapist, a support group, or a trusted person—can be a powerful first step. Healing is possible, even if it doesn’t feel that way right now.

 

 


**Reach out to me at any time.  I am not only willing, but I also look forward to taking a share of your pain. Email: David@bondedabrotherslove.com. You will get a caring same day response. Nothing scripted.  You are not alone, and you matter.

**Reach out to me at any time. 


I am not only willing, but I also look forward to taking a share of your pain. Email: David@bondedabrotherslove.com. You will get a caring same day response.


Nothing scripted. 

 

You are not alone, and you matter.




If You’re Struggling If you or someone you love or know is in a dark place, please know you’re not alone and there is help available. Reaching out is a sign of strength, not weakness. There are people ready to listen, ready to walk with you, and ready to help.

If You’re Struggling

If you or someone you love or know is in a dark place, please know you’re not alone and there is help available. Reaching out is a sign of strength, not weakness. There are people ready to listen, ready to walk with you, and ready to help.





Immediate assistance is available:


National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline  

📞 988


Veterans Crisis Line  

📞 1-800-273-8255 (Press 1) | 📱 Text 838255


Survivor Support / Crisis Group  

🌐 https://www.crisishotline.org  📞 832-416-1177

 


💡 If you know someone who needs to hear that they are not alone, share this story. Together, we can create echoes of hope that outlast the pain.


Bonded: A Brother’s Love — One Bullet. A Thousand Echoes.This book is more than my story. It is a voice for every family devastated by suicide and a lifeline for those standing at the edge of despair. My hope is that it reaches the one who needs it most. If even one person chooses life because of it, then every tear and every word will have been worth it. 📖 Order your copy today : https://tinyurl.com/3h87mjy6 and join me in breaking the silence. Together we can spread hope, honor the lost, and change the future.

For more than five decades, I carried this story in silence. Silence nearly broke me, but telling it is what keeps hope alive.


Bonded: A Brother’s Love : One Bullet. A Thousand Echoes my hope is that it offers understanding, connection, and even a reason to hold on when life feels unbearable.



📖 Order your copy today and join me in breaking the silence. Together we can spread hope, honor the lost, and change the future.


For more than five decades, I carried this story in silence. Silence nearly broke me, but telling it is what keeps hope alive. Bonded: A Brother’s Love : One Bullet. A Thousand Echoes my hope is that it offers understanding, connection, and even a reason to hold on when life feels unbearable. 📖 Order your copy today and join me in breaking the silence. Together we can spread hope, honor the lost, and change the future.

 
 
 

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