Unfinished Conversation: Healing from Suicide and Loss
A Guided Journey
By Robert E. Lesoine and Marilynne Chöphel MFT
Resources for Survivors of Suicide
General Survivor Resources
Resources for Military Survivors
Resources for Families and Children Survivors
Resources for Creating Survivor Support Groups
Resources for Suicide Prevention
GENERAL SURVIVOR RESOURCES
Unfinished Conversation Website
www.unfinishedconversation.com
Excerpts from Unfinished Conversation, and Handouts: Tool Kit for Your Journey to Healing, Creating Support, Clinical Theory Behind Unfinished Conversation’s Healing Process, and other supportive self-care handouts
Web Links for Survivors (links to Survivor Support Groups in your area, and other survivor on-line resources)
Suicide Prevention Resources
Readings to Support Your Journey
Resources for Health Professionals
American Association of Suicidology
www.suicidology.org
Suicide survivor support group directory:
http://www.suicidology.org/suicide-support-group-directory
Books for survivors:
Comprehensive list of books reviewed and recommended by AAS SOS Handbook, a quick-reference booklet for suicide survivors, available in English and Spanish.
Warning signs and risk factors for suicide
Statistics and fact sheets
Resources for clinicians
Resources for clinicians who have lost a patient or family member
Resources for those who have attempted suicide and for their families
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
www.afsp.org
Suicide survivor support group directory:
http://www.afsp.org/coping-with-suicide/find-support/find-a-support-group
Online Support Groups
Books for Survivors:
- Practical Guides for Coping with a Suicide Loss
- Survivor Stories
- Helping Children
- For Adolescents and Teenagers
- For Men
- For Clinicians
- Poetry and InspirationUnderstanding Suicide and Mental Illness
Surviving a Suicide Loss: A Resource and Healing Guide
Surviving a Suicide Loss: A Financial Guide
Survivor Outreach Program and Survivor e-Network
Find a Therapist
Clinician-Survivors
Suicide Attempt Survivors
Personal Stories
Events:
International Survivors of Suicide Day
Out of the Darkness Walks
Honor a Loved One
Education & Training
Support Group Facilitators Education & Training
Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention
www.suicideprevention.ca
Find a Crisis Centre
Events and Conferences
World Suicide Prevention Day
About Suicide: Risk Assessment; Resiliency Factors
Survivor Support
After a Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools
A Guide for Early Responders Supporting Survivors Bereaved by Suicide
National StandBy Response Service
International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP)
www.iasp.info/postvention.php
Resources in English, Estonian, Flemish, French, Japanese, Polish, Serbian, Spanish
IASP Special Interest Group: Postvention (Suicide Bereavement)
How to Start a Survivors’ Group (IASP/WHO publication)
Survivor Guides
National Survivor Organizations
European Directory of Suicide Survivor Services
International Listing of Suicide Survivor Services
Newsletter
National Organization for People of Color Against Suicide (NOPCAS)
www.nopcas.org
Prevention, intervention, and postvention support services to the families and communities impacted
adversely by the effects of violence, depression, and suicide.
About Suicide
Surviving
Bereavement Support Groups
Resources and Events
Interviews
Training and Speakers Bureau
Suicide Aftercare Association
www.suicideaftercare.org
Suicide survivor support group directory:
http://www.suicideaftercare.org/supportgroups.html
Offers postvention service to families during the critical 24-hour period following a suicide attempt or completion.
No-charge suicide scene biological cleaning service
Support group directory
Links to survivor services
Survivors of Suicide (SOS)
www.survivorsofsuicide.com
Understanding suicide
Beyond surviving
How to help survivors heal
Suicide—FAQ
SOS Poetry for the Heart
SOS memorials with photos
Resource links
RESOURCES FOR MILITARY SURVIVORS
Suicide Wall
www.suicidewall.com
Dedicated to memorializing veterans of Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan who have taken their own lives.
Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS)
Caring for the families of the fallen
www.taps.org
800-959-TAPS (8277)
Tragedy assistance resource 24/7 for anyone who has suffered the loss of a military loved one, regardless of the relationship to the deceased or the circumstance of the death. Suicide loss chat each month and annual gathering for suicide survivors.
RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN
Compassionate Friends
www.compassionatefriends.org
Grief support after the death of a child for parents, siblings, and grandparents.
Annual national conference for bereaved families.
Dougy Center
The National Center for Grieving Children & Families
www.dougy.org
Support for children, teens, young adults, and their families grieving a death.
Peer support groups, education, and training.
Friends and Families of Suicide/Parents of Suicide
www.pos-ffos.com
Support group and memorial space for parents, friends, and families who have lost someone to suicide.
Reachout.com
www.reachout.com
A website for teens that deals with all kinds of mental health issues. Teens can read stories and watch videos of peers who have been through similar issues. The website is monitored by mental health professionals 24/7. Based in Australia.
Fact sheets
Stories—from other young people sharing their experience
Feature Stories—issues facing young people
Forums—chat to other young people
Videos—stories and interviews
RESOURCES FOR CREATING SURVIVOR SUPPORT GROUPS
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)
www.afsp.org
Guidance for creating and facilitating suicide bereavement support groups for adults, teens and children. The training program is offered as a two-day comprehensive workshop, or a self-study manual with a DVD, that includes structuring the meeting, facilitating the process, and dealing with difficulties, as well as sample openings, ground rules, closings, handouts, and more.
Facilitating Suicide Bereavement Support Groups: A Self-Study
Manual: Workbook and Companion DVD, “Facilitating Suicide Bereavement Support Groups: Skill-Building and Special Challenges”
Facilitating Suicide Bereavement Support Groups: The Two-day Program
Comprehensive training using lecture, interactive discussion, and role-playing to prepare participants to run an effective support group
Facilitating Suicide Bereavement Support Groups for Children and Teens
Comprehensive training program using lecture, interactive discussion, and role-playing
RESOURCES FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
1-800-273-TALK (8255)
A free, 24-hour hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis, emotional distress, or for survivors who
need someone to talk with who understands your circumstances. Your call will be connected to the
nearest crisis center to you.
Veterans, call 1-800-273-8255 and press 1 to be routed to the Veterans Suicide Prevention Hotline.
American Association of Suicidology
www.suicidology.org
Directory of AAS-Accredited Crisis Centers
Suicide Prevention Resources
Warning Signs, Risk Factors, Statistics
Books about Suicide: Comprehensive list of books reviewed and recommended by AAS
Training & Accreditation
Annual Conference
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
www.afsp.org
Understanding Suicide
Preventing Suicide
Coping with Suicide—for survivors
Research, Advocacy, and Public Policy
Events:
Out of the Darkness Walks to Prevent Suicide
International Survivors of Suicide Day
The Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention
www.suicideprevention.ca
Find a Crisis Centre
Events and Conferences
World Suicide Prevention Day
About Suicide: Risk Assessment; Resiliency Factors
Defense Suicide Prevention Office (DSPO)
Department of Defense/Veterans Administration
www.suicideoutreach.org
Outreach Center 24/7 and Chat Online 24/7
Warning Signs and Self-assessments
Resources for Veterans
International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP)
www.iasp.info/postvention.php
Resources in English, Estonian, Flemish, French, Japanese, Polish, Serbian, Spanish
Dedicated to preventing suicidal behavior, to alleviate its effects, and to provide a forum for academics,
mental health professionals, crisis workers, volunteers, and suicide survivors.
National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
United States Department of Veterans Affairs Department of Defense
www.ptsd.va.gov
Public Section: Veterans, the General Public, Family & Friends Professional Section: Researchers,
Providers & Professional Helpers
Veterans Resources And Services
The Trevor Project
The leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian,
gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth, ages 13-24.
www.thetrevorproject.org
Suicide Prevention
Resources for Educators and Parents
Events
Advocacy
Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC)
www.sprc.org
The only federally supported resource center devoted to providing technical assistance, training, and
materials for suicide prevention practitioners and other professionals serving people at risk for suicide.
Assessing and Managing Suicide Risk
Online Trainings
Suicide Prevention in Juvenile Correctional Facilities
Suicide Prevention among LGBT Youth: for Professionals Who Serve Youth
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
www.va.gov
Suicide Prevention Resources: www.mentalhealth.va.gov/suicide_prevention/
Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255 (Press 1)