Self care in the immediate aftermath of a loss to suicide

In the immediate aftermath of suicide bereavement, there are some things you can do to care for yourself and to avoid additional triggers:

• Stay away from googling images of suicide, or the internet to understand what your loved one may have gone through.

• Stay away from any media or people who are likely to say or do things that may trigger additional anger, sadness or helplessness.

• If you don’t feel comfortable talking to the media, stay away and decline requests for quotes or soundbytes. It’s okay to not answer questions.

• If you wish to, you could appoint a family spokesperson; someone who can handle the attention and who you trust, to convey what the family is going through.

• Put off decisions that may impact your life (the beginning or end of a relationship, heavy financial decisions, moving to a different city, etc) until you are ready to think things through.

This article is part of a series on Understanding and coping with a loss to suicide. Read the other articles in this series:

1. Why suicide grief can be complex

2. What does grief look like?

3. Self-care in the immediate aftermath

4. On the need to understand why

5. Where should you seek help?

6. Grieving together with family and friends

7. Breaking the news to others

8. What to do with the note

This series has been compiled with inputs from Shweta Srinivasan, psychologist, The Mind Clan and former suicide bereavement support group manager at Sisters Living Works and Nyana Sabharwal, co-founder of We Hear You, a suicide support bereavement group.