Suicide: Survivors

[Page 3421]Survivors of suicide loss are those left behind after a death by suicide. Almost half the population knows someone who has died by suicide. These survivors may have been exposed to the suicide, affected by it, or bereaved short or long term. Because suicide is a stigmatized form of death, survivors face unique difficulties. Not much is known about what helps survivors most, but support groups and therapy are common sources of help.

Suicide, the intentional taking of one’s own life, is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States. Approximately 41,000 people die by suicide each year in the United States, with a suicide occurring every 12.8 minutes. Internationally, more than 800,000 people die by suicide each year. This entry discusses what ...