Suicide Grief Support FAQs

Losing a loved one to suicide brings a unique, complicated grief. Samaritans is here to offer suicide loss survivors nonjudgmental listening and a community of support from people who understand. But it can still be scary or intimidating to reach out for suicide grief support. The following FAQs may help you determine if a Samaritans suicide grief support program, including virtual SafePlace meetings or Survivor to Survivor visits, is right for you.

General Program FAQs

Who can participate in Samaritans suicide grief support programs?

Everyone is welcome to participate in Samaritans programs regardless of race, ethnicity, age, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, economic status and other diverse backgrounds. Most suicide grief support programs offered by Samaritans are limited to adults age 18+ unless otherwise noted.

My loss is recent — how do I know if I’m ready to attend a support group?

Everyone is welcome to join our SafePlace meetings at any time after their loss. For some people it’s a few weeks or months, and for others, it may be many years before they are ready. Before joining, we suggest you reflect on the following questions: Am I ready to talk about my loss? Will I be able to share the airtime with others? Will I be comfortable listening to others talk about their losses? If the answer is no, or you aren’t sure, we suggest you start with a Survivor to Survivor visit, where trained suicide loss survivor volunteers will meet with you privately.

Virtual SafePlace FAQs

We offer SafePlace meetings virtually via Zoom. Anyone who has lost a loved one to suicide can attend SafePlace meetings to connect with others who have experienced a similar loss.

Will I be on video?

When you join the meeting, your microphone and video will be disabled for privacy reasons. You can enable these once in the meeting, and we ask that you do join with video. It’s helpful to see each other while sharing and to offer non-verbal support.

I’m worried about my privacy in a virtual meeting.

Privacy concerns are completely understandable. We ask all participants to respect the confidentiality of others in the meeting as they would want their confidentiality to be respected.

Everyone who has access to the meeting link has lost a loved one to suicide. They have filled out a form on our website requesting access, which has been screened by Samaritans staff. Our meetings are password protected, and we have the most updated versions of Zoom with the most recent and up-to-date security features.

I don’t want people to see my full name.

You can remove your last name from your Zoom display name to help protect your identity before joining a meeting. There are websites that give guidance on changing your participant name. NerdsChalk provides information for different ways to change your participant name on different devices.

What is the format of the meetings?

Two volunteers who are themselves suicide loss survivors facilitate each SafePlace meeting. We start with some housekeeping, ground rules, a go around, open the meeting for discussion, and wrap with closing reflection.

Participants are free to chime in as they’re able. We encourage you to share and respond to one another. Raise your hand to indicate you’d like a chance to share.

How will I know who will be there?

These virtual meetings are drop-in. Because of this, we can’t guarantee who or how many people will be at any given meeting. We recommend trying any given meeting more than once because who’s at the meeting and what people need from the meeting will be different each evening. You may also attend on a different evening to meet different facilitators and participants.

Survivor to Survivor Visit FAQs

What happens during a Survivor to Survivor Visit?

Survivor to Survivor Visits last up to 90 minutes and allow the survivor to talk about their experience, ask questions, and share concerns. The main role of the team members is to listen and befriend. Volunteers may provide information about SafePlace meetings, Samaritans’ 24/7 Helpline, and other community resources. If the participant chooses, they can develop a plan that could include up to five more visits. Dates and times are arranged by Grief Support Services staff, in accordance with the volunteers and the family members.

What support is provided?

Trained volunteers who have themselves lost a loved one to suicide are available to listen, talk, answer questions, and provide resources. When appropriate, volunteers may share stories and examples of ways they coped with the death of their loved one. Our hope is having this contact will help alleviate some of the isolation and confusion often felt by survivors.

Who are the team members sent on Survivor to Survivor Visits?

Team members are survivors of suicide loss who have had time to regain their strength. They are carefully screened and trained by Samaritans’ staff to offer trustworthy support, and have been trained in befriending people who are grieving the loss of a loved one to suicide. Volunteers provide this service to the community in pairs.

Who can I bring with me to the Survivor to Survivor Visit?

Participants are welcome to invite family members or friends who could benefit from the meeting or make the experience more helpful. They may also choose to meet with the team members by themselves for the first time, with the option to invite others to later meetings. Some people find these visits helpful when they’re not ready to get to a support group or perhaps just want some additional time to talk outside of the group. If you would like someone under the age of 18 to participate, please see our guidelines for minor participation.