Coping With Suicide Loss in Alberta: Resources and Support

Losing someone to suicide is an experience of unimaginable grief that can leave you feeling traumatized, overwhelmed, and consumed by intense emotions. The devastation, pain, guilt, anger and unanswered questions that come in the aftermath can feel truly insurmountable. Tragically, many individuals and families across Alberta have been shattered by the impact of a loved one's suicide.

If you have lost someone close to you through suicide in this province, it's crucial to know that you don't have to endure this heartbreak alone. While nothing can undo the trauma you are facing, there are support services, counseling resources, and compassionate communities available in Alberta dedicated to providing care and guidance for survivors of suicide loss.

Crisis Support Lines

In the immediate aftermath, or whenever you need urgent emotional support, Alberta has several crisis lines available 24/7:

• Calgary Distress Centre: 403-266-4357
• Wood Buffalo Suicide Prevention Line: 1-800-232-7288
• Family Violence Info Line: 310-1818
• Canada Suicide Prevention Service: 1-833-456-4566
  

The caring crisis counselors are trained to provide supportive listening, safety planning if needed, intervention, and connections to local survivors of suicide loss support services near you in Alberta.

Support Groups

One of the most meaningful sources of comfort and understanding during this tragedy can come from connecting with others who have experienced a similar loss through suicide. Being able to openly share your story, emotions, memories, and ask questions with people who truly comprehend the depth of this trauma can help provide a profound sense that you are not alone.

The Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention (CASP) facilitates both in-person and virtual peer support groups across Alberta specifically for suicide loss survivors. Groups meet in areas like Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge, Red Deer, Fort McMurray and more. Sharing with others on a similar grief journey can be immensely healing.

You can check with mental health clinics, hospitals, counseling centers, or community support services in your local area for any additional suicide loss support groups as well.

Grief Counseling and Therapy

After experiencing a loved one's suicide, working with grief counselors and therapists trained specifically in suicide loss and trauma is highly recommended. The grief that follows can be extremely complicated, intense and difficult to process alone in a healthy manner.

Counselors with this expertise can provide a supportive therapeutic space to work through the devastation at your own pace. They can help guide you through the many emotions, challenging thought patterns, coping strategies, and common responses that come after a suicide loss.

Through the Alberta Health Services Community Mental Health Clinics and programs, you can access counselors and therapists experienced in working with survivors of suicide loss. Your family doctor may provide referrals as well.

Many private counseling practices across Alberta also have therapists trained in grief therapy specific to suicide. While private options require payment, some offer sliding scale fees based on income. Your employer benefits or private insurance may provide some coverage for counseling.

Indigenous Support Services

For Indigenous communities in Alberta facing a suicide loss, there are counseling and support services available that incorporate traditional teachings and cultural ceremonies:  

• The Hope for Wellness Help Line at 1-855-242-3310 provides crisis intervention and can connect you to local counselors and supports.
• The Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line at 1-866-925-4419 has counselors to support those grieving traumas related to the residential school system.
• Local Friendship Centres and Indigenous counseling agencies often have community-based grief recovery programs for survivors of suicide.
  

Online Support

In addition to local resources, there are national and international online support services available for survivors of suicide loss that are accessible anytime:

• The Alliance of Hope hosts virtual support groups, grief seminars, and forums to connect with others across the globe on a similar path.
• The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has an extensive online resource library, as well as private member forums to join.
• The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline's website has dedicated sections with resources curated for loss survivors.
• Facebook has private groups like "Grief - Survivors of Suicide Loss" where you can connect with a wider community of understanding.
  

Self-Care and Living with Grief

Losing someone to suicide creates immense emotional turmoil and traumatic grief that can impact every aspect of your daily life and wellbeing. You may experience severe depression, anxiety, trauma responses, guilt, anger, emotional numbness, and have many haunting questions with no clear answers.

It's critically important to prioritize self-care and be patient and compassionate with yourself as you navigate this devastation. Don't isolate yourself - spend time with loved ones who are supportive and non-judgmental as you grieve. Consider joining a counseling or peer support group to process your story in a therapeutic setting.

Write in a journal to cope with the onslaught of difficult thoughts and emotions. Maintain routines, nutrition, physical activity, and healthy sleep habits as much as possible. Mind-body practices like meditation, yoga, being in nature, art, or spirituality can provide grounding during the turmoil.

If you are having thoughts of suicide yourself, severe depression, struggles with daily functioning, PTSD symptoms or other acute trauma responses, immediately reach out to your doctor, local crisis line, emergency services or counselor for professional intervention and care. You do not have to endure this alone.    

Moving Forward After a Suicide

A loved one's suicide creates traumatic grief, unanswered questions, and an immense absence that may profoundly impact your life forever. But you don't have to carry the weight of this pain alone. Across Alberta, there are counseling services, support groups, crisis lines, cultural supports, and compassionate communities dedicated to surrounding and caring for survivors after a suicide loss.

While grief may persist long-term, reaching out for professional help, connecting with others who understand, accessing educational resources about suicide loss, and focusing on self-care can make the journey a little lighter. Step-by-step, you can find sources of understanding, solace, grounding and moments of peace and healing amidst the devastation.

This path is immensely difficult, but you do not have to walk it alone. Alberta has entire communities waiting to support, listen, and provide compassion as you grieve this traumatic loss. While the pain may never fully go away, you have access to resources that can help guide you through the darkest of times after suicide.