"At first I needed other people to help take care of me with the basics of getting small amounts of healthy food and plenty of water into me, and to try to sleep ... My friend who would sit next to me, walk beside me, listen to silence on the other end of the phone for hours, let me know I didn’t have to do this alone." 
Bronwen, lost brother to suicide in 2008

When supporting someone bereaved by suicide, it can be hard to know what to do or what to say. You can feel overwhelmed, anxious, and helpless.

Please seek help if you are supporting someone bereaved by suicide and remember to take care of yourself during this time. You can also click the tabs below for more information.

When a suicide occurs, it can have a devastating effect on family members, friends and others who knew the person. You might not know what to say or what to do when this happens. While everyone is different, and will grieve differently, there are some things you can do and say to support someone you know who is bereaved by suicide.

* what do I do and say factsheet

* tips for supporting someone who is grieving

* common thoughts or worries you might have

There are a number of things you can do to support a colleague bereaved by suicide, and some that you should avoid. 

* how to be a compassionate employer: supporting employees following the death of a loved one

* supporting a colleague bereaved by suicide: do's & don'ts, what should I say, how can I help?

Find Aboriginal support services

There are a number of culturally safe supports available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across the region.

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Find LGBTIQ+ support services

There are a number of culturally safe supports available for LGBTIQ+ people across the region.

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Find multicultural support services

There are a number of culturally safe supports available for multicultural communities across the region.

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Watch our bereavement support videos

We have developed a series of videos featuring people with lived experience of bereavement.

Click here >