People who are bereaved by suicide often experience feelings of guilt and a sense of failure that the suicide was not prevented. You may feel you should have seen it coming, or that you could have done more to prevent it.
As a survivor, this is your bill of rights.
I have the right to be free of guilt.
I have the right not to feel responsible for the suicide death.
I have the right to express my feelings and emotions, even if they do not seem acceptable, as long as they do not interfere with the rights of others.
I have the right to have my questions answered honestly by authorities and family members.
I have the right not to be deceived because others feel they can spare me further grief.
I have the right to maintain a sense of hopefulness.
I have the right to peace and dignity
I have the right to positive feelings about the one I lost through suicide, regardless of the events prior to or at the time of the untimely death.
I have the right to retain my individuality and not be judged because of the suicide death.
I have to right to seek counseling and a support group to enable me to honestly explore my feelings to further the acceptance process.
I have the right to reach acceptance.
I have the right to a new beginning.
I have the right to be.