Citation

Walker RS. Death Stud. 2017; 41(10): 635-638.

Affiliation

Alliance of Hope for Suicide Loss Survivors.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/07481187.2017.1335549

PMID

28548614

Abstract

This article is a personal narrative by Ronnie Walker, MS, LCPC about the suicide of her step-son, Channing, in 1995. It describes the particular journey of shock, despair, disorientation, guilt and anger that Walker began after the death. It also describes the remarkable personal growth and restoration of meaning that emerged for the author as she began what is now the largest online community of suicide loss survivors in the world, the Alliance of Hope ( www.allianceofhope.org ). The article also provides numerous examples of the power of supportive community in helping survivors of suicide loss to not only cope, but to demonstrate post-traumatic growth after the suicide of a loved one.

Language: en

Keywords

bereaved professionals; loss of a child to suicide; personal narrative of grief after suicide; post-traumatic growth; suicide bereavement