Grief; When somone you know completes suicide

I frequently get calls from individuals who know someone who had a family member or friend complete suicide. They are not sure what to say or what to do as there is still stigma related to suicide in today’s society.

People attempt suicide when their emotional and psychological pain becomes unbearable. They are unable to see that there are other options. They may feel completely isolated and cannot think of anyone to turn to for help even when they have good supports in their lives. People who attempt suicide are not “crazy.” Many people who complete suicide are acutely distressed or clinically depressed.

Grief following a suicide is intense and prolonged. Suicide is a traumatic loss. It is sudden, unexpected and frequently violent. People do not “get over it.” With support and understanding, the bereaved can learn to manage their grief and maintain a relationship with the deceased.
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The Gifts You Gave Me: An Imaging Journal

A new Healing Arts Workshop is being offered this fall. Grieving individuals will create a journal memorializing their loved ones and the gifts they received from them. The group will meet for four weeks and each week will focus on specific components, such as monoprinting, blind contour drawing, use of negative/positive space and watercolor. Personal photographs and mementos may also be incorporated into the journal.

Please consider joining us for this innovate program.

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It was only a pet

The love relationship between pets and their owners take on many qualities – companionship, comfort, security and love. When a pet dies, these aspects of the relationship are lost and the grief can be intense. Yet society often disenfranchises pet loss with cliché’s and unhelpful comments such as "you can always get another one".

The death of a pet can be very significant especially when you look at the nature of the pet/owner attachment. Some children lay claim to the family pet – they feed, clean up after, and play tirelessly with the beloved animal. The death of a pet is often a child’s first major loss. Isolated older adults often have significant relationships with their pets and the death of a pet can trigger grief reactions from other losses. Many hospice patients worry about what will happen to their pet when they die and only find peace once their pet has been placed in a home. Indeed, pets have become family members.

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El Dia de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead)

The Day of the Dead of Dia de los Muertos is a holiday celebrated in Mexico and the United States. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to honor those that have died. Traditonally, families build private altars honoring the deceased. They decorate the altars with sugar skulls, marigolds and favorite foods of the deceased.

This year the bereavement center will again host two healing arts workshops to celebrate the Day of the Dead. Participants will decorate a small skull (as a representation of the traditional sugar skulls) with colors and symbols that depict the personalities of the departed loved ones. The completed skulls will be placed on and around a traditionally decorated altar. A small celebration will follow where participants will be given the opportunity to share beloved memories and stories of their departed loved ones. No art experience is necessary.

Please join us.