Members of a very small club?
In the New York Times there is a piece entitled "Members of a Very Small Club" written by a woman who lost her mother to suicide when she was very young but did not know anyone else who lost a loved one until she was well into her 30s. She wrote a poignant piece indeed but it was surprising to hear that she has met so few that have been touched by suicide! Based upon the number of suicide deaths in the U.S. in the past 30 years, there are at least 5 million who lost someone dear to them and perhaps triple the number of people who knew someone less intimately. It isn't such a small club. Unfortunately the shame and suffering keeps people from getting the help they need. There are a number of excellent organizations available to suicide survivors; they are just a web search away.