The world can be harsh and cruel. Oftentimes, we find ourselves questioning a lot of circumstances and incidents that happen beyond our control. These situations often test our character and our attitude that sometimes, the pain can be unbearable. Coping with the pain and the emotional toll varies from one person to another.
While it’s okay for a person to break down from time to time, some opt to eradicate the pain for an eternal period. One of the not-so-talked about and is considered to be a taboo are the incidents of suicide.
Understanding What Suicide Is
There are a lot of factors that leads to one’s suicide. After all, people have a distinct way of coping up with emotions. More so, individuals have different levels of pain tolerance and emotional resilience. What may be okay for one is devastating to another.
Suicide is the act of taking one’s life. There are cases when the victim takes multiple attempts of self-harm and other emotional breakdowns or it can be a one-time incident. Nonetheless, a suicide is a tragedy.
But, what comes after suicide is oftentimes a gray area of life’s confusion. If you’re put into an unfortunate situation of hearing a suicide from a family friend, how can you help? We hope that this article can help you as well as the family facing such tragedy.
Caring for the Bereaved Family
One of the best things you can provide to the bereaved family is to lend an open heart, a compassionate touch and a mind free of judgement. After all, nobody deserves to experience the pain of losing a beloved soul. Here are some of the few suggestions you can do to ease the pain, even for a little while.
- Never attempt to judge the family’s situation or suggest how they feel. At this point of time, they are probably confused, horrified, and overwhelmed. If you think what you’re about to say cannot help the family, don’t say it.
- Let the family do what they think is best for the deceased’s stuff. Such loss isn’t expected and is unlike other deaths. Right now, traditions are out of the question. Suggesting actions is the same as pressuring them to do something they are not ready for.
- Don’t snoop around for details. Respect the family’s wish of silence and acceptance. Instead, be a good listener.
- Comparing the tragedy with another one of similar circumstance is a big no-no. Avoid making this loss about others. This pain is distinct to the family alone.
- If possible, lend a hand on chores or funeral arrangements. The emotional toll can be overwhelming to the family. Your helping hand counts during these grieving times.
Unlike other pain of loss, this tragedy is something that a family doesn’t anticipate. The best thing you can do as a person is to be respectful, caring and supportive.