Survivors of Suicide

Survivors of Suicide

It is estimated that more than 50,000 deaths by suicide occur in the United States each year.  Each suicide death leaves multiple survivors, individuals who have experienced the death by suicide of a family member or a friend.  Survivors must deal not only with their grief but also with a myriad of other overwhelming feelings, such as confusion, guilt, anger, shame, and hurt.  The survivor's ability to cope may also be confounded by the responses of friends, family members and others in the community - well-meaning people who may say hurtful things or place unrealistic expectations upon survivors, or who even may deny the event in its entirety.  As a result, survivors are typically overwhelmed and frequently feel very much alone.

To the Survivor:  This is the hardest thing you'll ever have to do.  Though you may not think so now, you can survive.  Know that you are not alone.  We provide a variety of services for survivors of suicide, including counseling, a survivor's support group, and a newsletter.  We would like to help.

New Survivor Booklet
Crisis Center Survivor Brochure

Counseling - Counseling is available - at no cost - for all survivors of suicide.  Survivors can be seen individually, as couples, or as entire families.  And counseling is available for children.  For further information or to schedule an appointment, call 264-6792.

Seeking Counseling After the Suicide of a Loved One

Survivors of Suicide Support Group - Many survivors find it helpful to talk with others who have also experienced the suicide death of a loved one.  The Survivors of Suicide Support Group provides survivors with the comfort and support that comes from connection with other survivors.  All persons who have been touched by suicide are invited to attend support group meetings as little or as often as they wish.  The group meets the second Wednesday of each month from 6:30-8:30 pm at the Crisis Center.  For additional information about the group, please call Sara Nash, Group Facilitator, at 264-6789.

Survivor Support Groups

Newsletter - "Solace" is defined as "comfort or consolation in times of distress."  Via the bi-monthly Solace newsletter, we strive to provide survivors with comfort, support and information.  To be placed on the mailing list for Solace, please call 352-264-6789.  Back issues are archived and can be accessed through the links below.

News - Check this section for information about upcoming events which may be of interest to survivors. 

  • National Survivors of Suicide Day - Saturday, November 22, 2008

    National Survivors of Suicide Day takes place every year in communities across the U.S. and the world on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. In each community, activities include a blend of emotional support and information about resources for healing for survivors of suicide loss. The Crisis Center will be hosting a Survivors of Suicide Day gathering, to include a local viewing of the telecast sponsored by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. The AFSP telecast features survivors and mental health professionals discussing their experiences and answering the questions that so many survivors face: "Why did this happen?" "How do I cope?" Please re-visit this site for additional information to come about local activities.

Solace Newsletter

Welcome to Solace, the newsletter of the Survivors of Suicide support group sponsored by the Alachua County Crisis Center.

Below is an archive of issues that are available for download. They are in PDF format. It is recommended that you have the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader to view these files.

Issues Archive - Index