Suicide rates are increasing at an alarming rate. A death by suicide leaves family members and friends with numerous unanswered questions and unresolved feelings. The shame experienced, and the stigmatism felt by those who are grieving the death of a loved one to suicide can affect and limit the grieving process. A high percentage of those who grieve a suicidal death experience complicated bereavement. The intensity and duration of emotions are exaggerated in a complicated bereavement and the griever struggles with finding meaning in the loss. Those who live with complicated grief also have high incidence of physical and mental health concerns. By studying what barriers, including stigmas, affect the grieving process, those of us who work with grievers are in a better position to offer effective help to those who experience complicated grief following the death of their loved one to suicide.

In this course, you:

1)    Distinguish between acute grief, integrated grief and complicated grief.

2)    Examine the symptoms of complicated grief as they apply to suicide bereavement.

3)    Gain skills in offering emotional first aid and crisis intervention.

4)    Apply a counseling model for helping during times of grief.

5)    Gain intervention skills to help the person in a complicated grief reclaim personal power and move forward along the healing journey.