Since 2008, the Alliance of Hope has been working to decrease stigma, increase understanding of the suicide loss experience, and provide direct support to survivors.

Losing a loved one to suicide can be life-altering. It is helpful to understand what you or your loved ones are experiencing. Learn about common emotions and challenges, the grief journey, and what can help.

Counseling Services Locator + Suicide Support Group Locator

Through a network of over 500 chapters with locations in all 50 states, as well as Washington DC and Puerto Rico, The Compassionate Friends has been providing support to bereaved families after the death of a child for five decades.

From his website:
”David Kessler is one of the world’s foremost experts on grief and loss. His experience with thousands of people on the edge of life and death has taught him the secrets to living a happy and fulfilled life, even afterlife’s tragedies. He is the author of six books, including the new bestselling book, Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief. He coauthored two books with Elisabeth Kubler Ross, including On Grief and Grieving updated her 5 stages for grief. His first book, The Needs of The Dying received praise from Saint (Mother) Teresa.”

A support group to help you move through the grief process

A GriefShare support group is a safe, welcoming place where people understand the difficult emotions of grief. Through this 13-week group, you’ll discover what to expect in the days ahead and what’s “normal” in grief. Since there are no neat, orderly stages of grief, you’ll learn helpful ways of coping with grief, in all its unpredictability—and gain solid support each step of the way.

Local grief support for East Jordan and Alanson, Michigan, sponsored by Kiersten’s Ride. If you have experienced a loss to suicide and would like to connect for direct outreach, they will meet to talk and look at resources to support your healing. Go to their website for details.

https://kierstensride.org/grief-support-group-for-loss-survivors/

I highly recommend all parents who have children across the veil to join the Facebook group and check out their website, I couldn’t have gotten through this without them. There are many FREE resources, meetings, and support groups. There are many sub-groups for suicide survivors, special needs fathers, and siblings, the list is long., They also have free support through caring listeners, see the list on their website.

Helping Parents Heal is a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting parents whose children have passed. Through support and resources, we aspire to help individuals become "Shining Light Parents," meaning a shift from a state of emotional heaviness to hopefulness and greater peace of mind. HPH goes a step beyond other groups by allowing the open discussion of spiritual experiences and afterlife evidence in a non-dogmatic way. HPH welcomes everyone regardless of religious or non-religious background and encourages open dialog.

Hold Onto Hope is designed to support individuals in:
• Addressing the stigmas surrounding suicide and how it affects the ability to grieve;
• Supporting someone who has lost a loved one to suicide;
• Debunking the myths around suicide and grief;
• Exploring the feelings around a loss to suicide through journaling; and
• Identifying the survivor’s needs and how to successfully navigate available resources.

Walking This Road Together

Melissa Bottorff-Arey has been living this path since the suicide loss of her 21-year-old son, Alex, in 2016.

Over the past six years, through The Leftover Pieces® Podcast, writing, retreats, and private coaching, she has held space for hundreds of honest conversations about suicide loss and the lifelong journey that follows.

Her work is rooted in lived experience and shaped by walking alongside other grieving mothers as they learn how to carry their love and grief while continuing to live forward.

Experience & Credentials

Host of The Leftover Pieces® Podcast (300+ conversations on suicide loss)
Author & Legacy Project Curator honoring lives lost to suicide
* Master Certified Grief Coach, Reiki I & II Practitioner & Trauma-Informed Energy Healer
* Retreat Leader, Speaker & Collaborator in suicide loss support

Suzanne was and still is instrumental in helping me heal from Ali’s passing. Her videos, books, and classes are highly recommended! If you want a more joy-filled
life, consider checking it out
- Tammy Patrick (Ali’s Mom)

“My mission has changed from serving my country to serving those who are dealing with the challenges of being human. You may feel broken. You may be wounded. But it is my greatest honor to help you discover you are a soul, and your soul is perfectly fine.” – Suzanne