In this post:
- Who Are the Survivors of Suicide Loss?
- Resources for Survivors of Suicide Loss
- Ketamine Therapy: A Path to Healing for Survivors
- How Avesta Ketamine and Wellness Supports Survivors
International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day on November 23 acknowledges those who have endured the heartbreak of a loved one passing in this way. Also known as Survivor Day, this global event occurs one week before Thanksgiving so survivors can access the support they need during the holiday season–a particularly difficult time. Suicide loss survivors struggle with significant grief that can understandably endure years after the tragedy. They need resources, community, and sometimes clinical interventions, like ketamine therapy, to process and recover.
The article recognizes International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day, examines survivors’ challenges, and offers hope for healing.
Who Are the Survivors of Suicide Loss?
Up to 135 people feel the impact of every suicide. And one person takes their life every 40 seconds. Such staggering numbers have left millions of friends, families, and community members navigating the harrowing survivor journey–often alone.
Suicide loss survivors endure a grief process marked by intense emotional weight and a constant battle with unanswerable questions. Many struggle with guilt, wondering if they missed signs or could have prevented the tragedy. Others feel intensely angry, traumatized, and depressed as they search for the will and path to move forward. Survivors also face physical symptoms, such as fatigue, sleep disturbances, and muscle tension.
Adding to this pain, societal suicide stigma can create a wall between survivors and their usual support systems. Friends and family may not know how to offer aid and inadvertently say things that deepen the survivor’s trauma. Due to this reason, survivors may hesitate to speak openly about their experiences.
Survivor support groups like those offered by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) provide a crucial outlet.
Resources for Survivors of Suicide Loss
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) provides significant survivor resources, including outreach groups, educational material, and peer support. It also hosts International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day with events in cities across the world and online. These workshops remind survivors that they aren’t alone and offer an opportunity to connect with others who understand their grief. Many locations offer additional resources and programming, such as support circles and guided discussions.
Check the AFSP website for Survivor Day events near you, or find virtual options if local gatherings aren’t available.
Recommended Books, Documentaries, and Support Groups
Survivors can also find support through books and films that explore the experiences of coping with grief. The AFSP produces annual documentaries that feature survivors’ stories and insights, available through their website. Other resources include:
- Books: No Time to Say Goodbye by Carla Fine and After Suicide: Finding Life After Loss by Bob Baugher and Jack Jordan are recommended readings for understanding the complexities of this grief.
- Support Groups: The Alliance of Hope offers an online forum available 24/7 for survivors needing immediate connection, while the AFSP lists numerous in-person and virtual support groups across the U.S. and Canada.
- Children and Teens Support: The AFSP’s booklet, Children, Teens, and Suicide Loss, co-written with The Dougy Center, provides advice on supporting younger survivors.
Ketamine Therapy as an Alternative for Healing
Traditional grief networks provide essential comfort, but they may not fully address the depth of survivors’ pain. For suicide loss survivors suffering in silence, ketamine therapy is an option worth considering. Research shows that ketamine therapy in a safe, controlled environment can ease depression, PTSD, and suicidal thoughts through various physiological mechanisms. Ketamine clinics like Avesta Ketamine and Wellness (Avesta) create a pathway to healing that helps survivors break cycles of intense sadness.
Ketamine Therapy: A Path to Healing for Survivors
Ketamine therapy offers unique relief for suicide loss survivors by easing severe symptoms and helping people reconnect to themselves and the world around them.
Wade P., a Navy veteran, and Avesta patient, exemplifies this healing process. Wade felt disconnected from his sense of purpose and deeply isolated after leaving the Navy. Traditional treatments failed to lift Wade’s spirits, and he eventually reached a breaking point where he attempted suicide. Ketamine therapy gave Wade the space he needed to confront his painful emotions and the grounding to rebuild his life.
Suicide loss survivors feel similar emotions of isolation and despair. Like Wade, survivors can benefit from ketamine’s unique effects—restoring emotional resilience, clarity, and the energy to engage with loved ones.
Research-Backed Support for Grief and Trauma
Extensive research has shown that ketamine strengthens brain pathways involved in mood regulation, particularly those tied to depression, suicidal thoughts, and trauma. Ketamine’s mechanisms forge new neural connections and allow for a mental “reset.” This process reduces the intensity of negative emotions and diminishes feelings of sadness and emotional numbness.
Ketamine therapy can also facilitate deep introspection through its dissociative psychedelic effects.
Josh K., another Avesta patient, said that the mind-altering journey allowed him to access profound insights, which made it easier to work through his depression in therapy afterward. Ketamine’s ability to foster these perspective shifts provides vital support for suicide loss survivors coping with ongoing pain from ruminating guilt-ridden thoughts.
How Avesta Ketamine and Wellness Supports Survivors
Avesta Ketamine and Wellness offers comprehensive support for survivors of suicide loss through personalized treatment plans, trauma-informed care, and continuous guidance.
Compassionate, Personalized Care: Avesta’s team begins each journey with a detailed intake to understand the survivor’s challenges, mental health needs, and personal goals. This leads to a tailored treatment plan, which may include options like Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) and in-session coaching to help survivors process their emotions and experiences.
Safe and Supportive Environment: Avesta’s ketamine clinics in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C. are calming spaces where survivors feel genuinely respected and emotionally centered. Treatment rooms feature soft lighting, comfortable furnishings, and decor that fosters a sense of peace. Trauma-informed professionals lead each session, creating a therapeutic space that prioritizes the survivor’s comfort and sense of security.
Guidance Every Step of the Way: Avesta is committed to walking with survivors throughout their journey from the treatment room and beyond. The team provides consistent follow-up and integration coaching, guiding survivors in applying ketamine therapy insights to foster a sense of resilience.
A Message of Solidarity and an Invitation to Reach Out
Avesta Ketamine and Wellness honors the courage it takes for survivors to move forward after such unimaginable tragedy. Grieving after suicide loss is complex, and finding a path to peace requires support. Avesta stands in solidarity with all survivors, affirming that hope and growth are possible.
If you’re seeking compassionate care on your survivor jouney, Avesta invites you to reach out. Explore how ketamine therapy can help you find relief, connection, and renewed purpose.
