SURVIVORS AFTER SUICIDE - A SELF-HELP GROUP

About 100,000 people die due to suicide in India in a year. This accounts for nearly 10% of the total suicides in the world. For every suicide there are many survivors whose lives are profoundly affected emotionally, socially and economically.

More importantly, people who lose someone by suicide are at a higher risk of engaging in suicidal behaviour themselves. Understanding the special needs of these people who have suffered this difficult kind of loss in silence, Survivors After Suicide or SAS was launched in 2004.

This service, hitherto unavailable anywhere else in our country helps people come to terms with their grief and pain in their own way and move forward in their lives positively and productively.

The SAS programme consists of 8 weekly group meetings of 2 hours each. The group is made up of 10 to 15 people who have lost someone to suicide and understand the pain involved. Each group has two co-ordinators – a professional therapist and a volunteer. The best part is that this programme is offered absolutely free of charge; and, whatever shared is held in confidence among the group members.

A few facts...

	Suicide survivors are not attempters.
	There are also family members, others who survive following the death of their loved one by suicide.
	About 1 lac people die by suicide in India every year.
	Each suicide leaves at least 7 people devastated.
	7 lacs people become survivors every year in India.

What factors make suicide Grief and Bereavement different?

	Suicide death is sudden and unexpected.
	Death by suicide often leaves unfinished, irresolvable issues.
	Death by suicide is often violent.
	Suicide often occurs in systems already experiencing stress.

Feelings/ Emotions

	Survivor Grief
	Shock and Numbness
	Denial
	Search for a reason for the suicide … Why?
	Shame
	Guilt and Blame
	Loss and Depression
	Isolation and Confusion
	Loneliness and Social Isolation
	Heightened Suicide Risk