Grief After Suicide
You are not alone…
Support for anyone who has lost a loved one through suicide
Advice for survivors
- Even if you feel that you cannot survive, know that you can.
- Feelings of shock, guilt, blame, anger, relief, depression, and isolation are common responses to grief. These emotions can be overwhelming but know that they are normal.
- Each survivor grieves in his own way and at his own pace.
- Seek out people who are willing to listen without judging.
- Remember that many people are affected by suicide.
- Seek professional help if needed.
- Take care of yourself—physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
- This is the hardest thing you will ever do. Be patient and do not try to do it by yourself.
- Remember, HEALING TAKES TIME.
Recommended Reading
Survivors of Suicide Loss Resources
A brief directory of literature and websites for survivors of suicide loss.
TSPN – Survivor of Suicide Loss Resource Sheet
TSPN held a virtual event entitled “Finding Hope: An Interview with Survivors of Suicide Loss”
in April 2021. Click here
to watch the recording of the event.
Suicide grief support groups are open to anyone who has lost a loved one through suicide or who is helping someone who has lost a loved one through suicide. They offer safe places to explore their feelings of grief and anger and to raise questions and doubts.
These groups are here whenever you are ready and for as long as you need them. You can attend a meeting the day of the funeral, a few months after, or even years later. You are free to talk, or you can just listen. The facilitators and members of these groups realize the grieving process is hard work, and they understand the unique aspects of this complicated form of grief.
Suicide Grief Support Groups in Tennessee
TSPN recommends contacting the facilitator ahead of attending your first meeting. In some cases, it may be required for participation.
To correct meeting or contact information or suggest a new listing, email tspn@tspn.org with "SOS Group Meeting Update" in the subject line.
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In addition to the groups listed below, GriefShare offers general-purpose grief and loss support groups across the state, both in-person (primarily based at local churches) and online. Groups operate on a 13-week cycle but you can join at any time. Some groups are free to join; others charge roughly $20 to cover the costs of the component participant guide.
To find a group near you, use the "Find a Group" function on the GriefShare website and enter your city or ZIP Code.
Bristol, VA
Survivors of Suicide
1st Friday of each month, 7:00 PM
Call (276) 466-2218, (276) 828-7731, or (877) 928-8522 for details.
Chattanooga
Chattanooga Area Survivors of Suicide Loss Support Group
2nd Tuesday of each month, 6:30-8:00 PM
Community Room (Entrance B, Outpatient Surgery)
CHI Memorial Hospital
2525 Desales Avenue
Contact Christy Sentell (cmr3279@aol.com or 423-667-8599) / Bryan Barks (bbarks@tspn.org or 706-340-1095)
Grief Support Groups
Hospice of Chattanooga
Details at Hospice of Chattanooga website
Columbia
Suicide Grief Support Group
Unity Psychiatric Care
1400 Rosewood Drive
Contact Virginia Schulz at (931) 477-6583 or vschulz@unitypsych.com
Cookeville
GriefShare
Mondays at 5:30 PM, Tuesdays at 9:30 AM, and Wednesdays at 1:00 PM
Contact Marlene Bassetts or John Schaefer at
(931) 644-9600 or
mr.john2889@gmail.com
Details at
GriefShare website
Journey grief support group
Call
(931) 525-2600 or e-mail
info@heartofthecumberland.org
Details at
https://www.heartofthecumberland.org/community-groups
Franklin
Survivors of Suicide Loss
Family & Children’s Service
Every Monday, 7:00-8:30 PM
Call (615) 244-7444 to register
Huntingdon
Survivor of Suicide Loss Support Group
1st Saturday of each month, 8:30–9:30 AM
Baptist Memorial Hospital
631 R B Wilson Drive
Contact Christy Blount at
cblount2@utm.edu
Jackson
Survivors of Suicide Loss
2nd Thursday of each month at 6:30 PM
Contact Paula Terry at (731) 609-8897 or pcterry64@yahoo.com
Survivors of Suicide (SOS) Grief Group
Thursdays at 7 PM
Fellowship Hall
Congregation B'nai Israel, 401 West Grand Street
Contact Lynn Landrum Julian at lynn.julian@bradfordhealth.com
Jefferson City
ComPaSS (Communicating the Pain as Suicide Survivors)
1st Tuesday of each month at 6 PM
Contact Cynthia Lynn at 865-680-3256 or clynn3118@gmail.com
Johnson City/Tri-Cities
Grief Support Group
2nd Tuesday each month, 6:00-7:30 PM
Summit Leadership Foundation
3515 Bristol Highway
Johnson City, TN 37601
Contact Dr. Barbara Sims at barb@bsims.net
Jonesville, VA
Survivors of Suicide Support Group
4th Thursday of each month
Lee Behavioral Health
34084 Wilderness Road
Contact Bill & Phyllis Russell at (276) 346-1641 or Lee Behavioral Health at (276) 346-3590
Knoxville
ComPASS (Communicating the Pain as Suicide Survivors)
2nd Monday of each month, 6:00-7:30 PM
Administrative Board Room (lower level)
Peninsula: The Light House
1451 Dowell Springs Road
Contact Gabe Blake at 865-970-9800 or gabe@franklinkyle.com
See information flyer for details
Contact Care Survivors of Suicide Group
Every Tuesday at 6:30-8:00 PM
Bookwalter UMC
4218 Central Avenue Pike
Contact Scott Payne at 865-973-9673 or scott@contactlistens.org
Suicide Grievers Support Group
2nd Thursday of each month at 7:30 PM
5410 Homberg Drive, Suite 18
Contact
PJ Alexander, LCSW, CT, BCD at
865-640-2459 or
palexander1051@gmail.com
(Please contact facilitator by email, call, or text prior to your first meeting)
Maryville
Contact Care Survivors of Suicide Group
Every Saturday at 1:00-2:30 PM
Full Circle Counseling and Wellness
681 Morganton Square Drive
Contact Scott Payne at 865-973-9673 or scott@contactlistens.org
Memphis
Healing Hearts Suicide Grief Support Group
3rd Thursday of each month at 6:30 PM
White Station Church of Christ
1106 Colonial Road
Contact Kerry Mitchell at (901) 208-6814 or momofjamaje@yahoo.com, or call 901-743-4701
4th Thursday of each month at 6:30-8:00 PM
Memphis Gay & Lesbian Community Center
892 South Cooper Street
Call
901-672-7887 for additional information
Murfreesboro
Survivors of Suicide Loss
Every Thursday at 7:00 PM
Contact Family & Children's Service at 615-244-7444
Nashville
Survivors of Suicide Loss
In-person: every Tuesday at 7:00-8:00 PM
Virtual: every other Thursday at 7:00-8:00 PM
Call 615-244-7444 to register
Oxford, MS
Healing Hearts Suicide Grief Support Group
3rd Sunday of each month at 2:00-3:30 PM
St. Andrews United Methodist Church
431 North 16th Street
Call 662-701-7389 for additional information
Savannah (Hardin County and surrounding areas)
Survivors of Suicide (SOS) Support Group Meeting
4th Monday of each month at 6:00 PM
Contact Dr. Kelly Young at 731-212-2482 or 731-215-0733
Sevierville
ComPaSS (Communicating the Pain as Suicide Survivors)
3rd Thursdays of each month at 6 PM
Contact
Dr. Cynthia Lynn or Jack and Robin Maples at
865-654-8247,
865-680-3256, or
clynn3118@gmail.com
Southaven, MS
Healing Hearts Suicide Grief Support Group
1st Tuesday of each month at 6:30-8:00 PM
M.R. Davis Public Library
8554 Northwest Drive
Call 901-487-5998 for additional information
Spring Hill
Suicide Loss Support
1st Monday of each month at 5:30 PM
Contact
Karyl Chastain Beal at
(931) 674-2314 or
karylofcolumbia@cs.com
Details at
grief-after-suicide.com
Tullahoma
Mending Hearts
Every Thursday at 6 PM
Library of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, 304 West Grizzard Street
Contact Pam Belzil at 661-202-0933 or mbelzil@cs.com
(Please contact facilitator by phone or email prior to your first meeting)
Wartrace (Bedford County and surrounding areas)
Grief Support of Bedford County
Last Thursday of each month
Contact Alexandria Morris-Kale at niomi_morris@yahoo.com
Winchester
GriefShare
Contact Pastor Jerry Jochem at
931-636-1120 or
jochem131@abundantlifewin.org
Additional Resources
Parents of Suicides/Friends and Families of Suicides
Perhaps the oldest Internet community related to suicide loss, Parents of Suicides/Friends and Families of Suicides maintains two email support groups for survivors. It hosts a public message board, a members-only chat room, and two active e-mail groups. POS-FFOS also maintains a virtual memorial wall and features information about the International Suicide Memorial Wall hosted at the TSPN offices in Nashville.
The Suicide Memorial Wall is maintained by volunteers who are part of the POS-FFOS community.
Alliance of Hope for Suicide Loss Survivors
The Alliance of Hope for Suicide Loss Survivors provides online healing support and other services for people dealing with suicide loss. The site includes information on the survivor experience, an online forum, support resources, and a memorial wall.
Friends for Survival, organized by and for survivors, has been offering suicide bereavement support services since 1983. The group offers a variety of monthly support and educational groups, an online newsletter, a comprehensive list of resources and reference library, and its Toll-Free Suicide Loss Helpline (1-800-646-7322).
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
The Lifeline is a free 24/7, confidential, short-term crisis counseling line for those experiencing distress. It is a myth that 988 is only for suicidal individuals; it is available to everyone. Call, text, or chat 988 if you are overwhelmed, stressed, and need to talk with a trained counselor.
This project is funded under a grant contract with the State of Tennessee, Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.