Life After Suicide: A Ray of Hope for Those Left Behind Book

Life after Suicide: A Ray of Hope for Those Left Behind begins with personal and often painful journeys into the scarred psyches of people who lost a loved one to suicide. When the author's husband killed himself, she had a choice: either hide behind denial or tackle her grief head-on. Beginning with her own story of unfinished personal affairs, Ms. Ross also includes accounts of others who have struggled with recurring feelings of abandonment, rejection, and stigma while moving forward to stages of healing and restoration of faith in themselves. She then describes the dynamics of after-suicide bereavement and gives specific suggestions for helping survivors, children, and others. The author also discusses the ethical debate over suicide as a sin, widowhood by suicide, the delicate responsibilities of the coroner or police, and the importance of support groups. Ms. Ross presents her own reflections on suicide in moral, philosophical, and social terms - and the impact of the dysfunctional family - and explores possible influencing factors for both the act of suicide and society's attitude. Backed by years of research and her extensive work with survivors and support groups, this is a valuable guide for recovering from grief, offering useful information for both survivors and those who work with them. Capped by a comprehensive grief and postvention resource guide, Life after Suicide stands as an important resource for libraries, crisis centers, funeral homes, hospices, and other caregiving organizations.Read More