The Suicide Grievers Support Group is sorry to hear of the
suicide of a valued person in your life. In many ways, this seems
the most tragic form of death. Certainly it can entail more shock
and grief and complex issues entwining loss than any other form of
death. You, the griever, are not only trying to come to terms with
the absence of a valued person from your life but also the endless
questioning of why and the confusion, guilt, anger and deep
gnawing pain the searching creates.

In suicide, survivors often are robbed of the type of peaceful
closure other forms of natural death from lingering illness brings
to other grievers. It is hard not to feel the stigma suicidal
deaths often leave on the heart of the griever. Yet, often it
must be remembered that suicide is not a one-time event, but the
culmination of months or years of battle the loved one fought. You
knew that person over a lifetime and you may or may not have known
their battle--but we often discover the person was entrenched in a
battle of sorts with the self. The battle took toll of his or her
energies and endurance and exhausted his or her last vestiges of courage
and strength. That is tragically sad, yet, we can recall a lifetime of
knowing the person, what we admired about the person during life possibly
even the past effort put forth to bravely fight the battles. Although it
is difficult now, in time, you will be able to recall the totality of the
person you knew in life not just embroiled in their final act in death.

Because of the isolation, confusion, and complexity of this type of loss,
we encourage you to consider attending the Suicide Grievers Support Group.
In the group you will meet others experiencing the similar feelings and
the searching you are experiencing. The group is a non-judgmental place
where you can bring those piercing questions and explore the stages and
phases this form of loss brings.

The group is professional facilitated by P.J. Alexander, LCSW (licensed
clinical social worker) who has worked in bereavement over the past several
years. P.J. is a member of the American Association of Suicidology
and the Association for Death Education and Grief Counseling and shares
information made available through these professional affiliations.

There are no fees for the group. We meet the second Thursday of each
month at 7:00 p.m. at 9050 Executive Park Drive, Suite 104-A,,
Knoxville, Tennessee. Please call P.J. at (865) 671-9631 for more
information or directions to our meeting place. Individual
counseling is also recommended because of the complexities
of this type of loss. P.J. is willing to assist you in this
as you request.

With Deepest Sympathy,

P.J. Alexander
and the Suicide Grievers Support Group

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