Bereavement Support After Suicide Group

Grief for those bereaved through suicide is more complicated

Support for those bereaved through suicide is an important part of Rosedale’s commitment to providing free and accessible support in Norfolk and Suffolk.

Being bereaved by suicide has been described as ‘grief with the volume turned up’. Much of what the bereaved feel may be the same as when the person had died suddenly or after a long illness.  Yet people say a suicide seems to intensify the normal responses to loss.  For example, they may feel a sharper guilt over their own actions, a more bitter blame towards someone else who they feel could have prevented the suicide, stronger anger at the person who died or a deeper despair that someone close to them has died this way.

Research shows that in the absence of appropriate support, those who have been bereaved this way can often be more vulnerable to go on to experience thoughts of suicide or die by suicide themselves.

Lucy Coote – Group facillitator and mental health trainer

“Many people who are bereaved through suicide don’t receive the support they need, we want to provide a safe and supportive environment where people can come together to share their experiences and emotions, and to find ways to cope with the specific challenges of their loss. For many years we have delivered specialist training to inform and empower the blue light services, counsellors, funeral directors, and other health professionals that support those bereaved through suicide. Building on those experiences we now hope that this new support group will provide a much-needed source of comfort and companionship for those friends and family members who have been directly affected.”

Why choose Rosedale for bereavement support for those bereaved through suicide?

Rosedale has a proven track record for supporting people locally and nationally and has trained out best practice throughout the UK.

Lucy also works with the Norfolk and Waveney Suicide Awareness Partnership and Hub of Hope delivering support to those bereaved by suicide locally as well as being a member of Hope After Suicide Loss.

The support group is free to attend, and all are welcome. Participants will be encouraged to share their stories and experiences, and to provide support for one another in a safe and confidential space.

Our Support Group for those bereaved by suicide runs on the second Monday of every month at Harleston Community Centre, Wilderness Lane, Harleston, IP20 9DD

An interview

In this short video, you can watch an attendee of our Hope After Suicide speak about how she found out about our group, how she felt before joining and how the group has helped her since joining.

Upcoming dates 2026

5.30 – 7.00

For more information and to register please contact our Harleston branch.