Supportive Communities Benefit Survivors of Suicide

An interview with Bonnie Kidd, published in The Sarnia Observer’s article “Special Report: Living with Suicide,” is a haunting reminder that the effects of suicide are not isolated to those who commit it. Society needs to provide care and support for the family, friends, and often the entire community left behind by someone who has committed suicide.

While mental illness has historically been one of those family secrets that lies “behind closed doors,” we need to open those doors to foster a supportive community. This could be the most helpful kind of assistance for those who suffer from mental illness and their families. If the worst should ensue, survivors of suicide can reap great support in having a community share their own grieving process.

Click here for more information on how to help a survivor of suicide in your community.

-Kate Midden