SUICIDE SURVIVORS' STORIES

 

Share your personal story of hope and help others who may be going through a tough time. We want to hear from you. Share with us if you have made it out on the other side, have learned lessons along the way, and are living mentally well and productively after the loss of a loved one or after their own lived experience.

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Survivors of Suicide Loss Stories

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             My Inheritance                                          I Loved Her First                                   Once Upon A Time

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A Birthday to Celebrate and Remember          I Should Have Known                                  Amelia’s Story

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                  Lifelines                                                     The Word

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Submission Guidelines

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Tell us about how you were able to cope with the loss of a loved one or ways in which you have been able to proceed through the grieving process. We also welcome stories about how you or someone you know was able to prevent suicide by identifying the problem and getting help.

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We acknowledge that the realities of suicide loss are often less than positive, and it may be difficult or take some time to find a hopeful message. We’d like you to take a minute to evaluate if your story can provide hope, support, and guidance to those who have recently lost a loved one to suicide. If you’re ready to share how you found peace and even possibly persevered in the aftermath of a suicide loss, please share your story in hopes that it will provide others who are struggling through the grieving process hope as well. Follow the submission guidelines closely and note know that submitting your story does not guarantee it will be posted to this website. Thank you for your bravery and willingness to share and help others.

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Why Are There Guidelines? 

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Certain types of content related to suicide can increase the likelihood of suicide in vulnerable individuals. Risk of additional suicides increases when the story explicitly describes the suicide method, uses dramatic/graphic headlines or images, and repeated/extensive coverage sensationalizes or glamorizes a death. For this reason, we’ve laid forth evidence based guidelines to help you draft your story in a way that is helpful to readers and minimizes risk of further suicides.

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By submitting your story to Defeat Suicide Foundation, you agree to the Submission Guidelines outlined below.

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Follow suicide messaging safety guidelines:

1. Avoid showing or describing suicide methods or locations. We will not share your story if you include this!

2. Do not include overly personal details of your loved one or yourself.

3. Do not glorify or romanticize suicide. Suicide is not honorable or heroic.

4. Do not try to explain suicide as the result of one cause or as inexplicable. Provide any clues or warning signs you observed. Provide context to the story and if mental illness was present.

• Do not include a link in your submission to your story. Please type your submission in the space provided or upload your story in a document.

• Do not include links in your story to products for purchase. This page is not meant for promotion of books, films, or other suicide prevention resources that are for purchase. If you’d like to share these resources with SAVE, you can contact us.

• Make sure enough time has passed and that you are mentally and emotionally ready to share your story.

• Share positive outcomes to educate or inspire hope. Stories of hope means someone has recovered, sought help, or have begun to heal after a loss. Think of the best way to get your message of hope across.

• Share any resources you used and provide those details where possible.

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Are You Ready To Share Your Story of Hope?