Losing someone to suicide is one of the most traumatic and complex forms of bereavement. It leaves behind questions that cannot be answered, grief that is often complicated by guilt and stigma, and a pain that deserves specialised support.
Our registered psychologists in Melbourne provide compassionate, evidence-based support for people bereaved by suicide across four clinic locations and via Telehealth.
WorkCover, NDIS or TAC approved? YOU PAY NOTHING.
If your claim has been approved, we bill your funder directly. Zero out-of-pocket cost — no gap, no upfront payment, nothing.
Suicide bereavement refers to the grief experience of those left behind after a loved one dies by suicide. Suicide loss survivors — as those bereaved by suicide are called — face a unique set of psychological challenges that distinguish their grief from bereavement by other causes (Jordan, 2001).
These include:
Suicide loss survivors commonly experience:
People bereaved by suicide have significantly elevated rates of PTSD, complicated grief, depression, and suicidal ideation compared to other bereaved populations, and benefit substantially from specialised psychological support (Jordan, 2001).
Suicide bereavement involves trauma as well as grief — the traumatic nature of sudden, violent, or unexpected death overlays the grief process and can interfere with normal mourning (Shear, 2015). The guilt, shame, and stigma unique to suicide loss require specific therapeutic attention.
Effective support for suicide bereavement:
Specialised suicide bereavement interventions produce significant reductions in grief, guilt, trauma symptoms, and suicidal ideation in suicide loss survivors (de Groot et al., 2007).
Our psychologists provide evidence-based, compassionate support for suicide loss:
Adapted for traumatic and suicide loss, CGT addresses both the grief and trauma components of suicide bereavement. Produces significant improvements in grief symptoms, depression, and functioning in people with prolonged or complicated grief (Shear et al., 2016).
Addresses the traumatic components of suicide loss — particularly intrusive memories, avoidance, and trauma-related beliefs (‘It was my fault’, ‘I should have seen the signs’). TF-CBT reduces PTSD symptoms and complicated grief following traumatic bereavement.
Suicide loss disrupts fundamental assumptions about the world and the relationship with the deceased. Meaning reconstruction therapy supports rebuilding a coherent life narrative that includes rather than erases the person who died — maintaining continuing bonds without being held captive by guilt (Neimeyer, 2016).
Connection with others who have experienced suicide loss is powerfully healing — reducing isolation, normalising experience, and providing practical wisdom from those further along in their own bereavement. We can connect you with Melbourne-based suicide bereavement support groups.
You are not alone. There is a community of suicide loss survivors — and there is support that truly understands what you are going through.
Your first appointment is a safe, private space to share your loss and your experience of grief — at your own pace, without any expectation.
We hold space for all the complicated emotions of suicide loss — including love, guilt, anger, relief, and profound sorrow.
Where appropriate, we can connect you with peer support groups and community resources for suicide loss survivors in Melbourne.
We offer appointments in-clinic at our Mooroolbark, Wheelers Hill, Reservoir, and Melbourne CBD locations, as well as Telehealth sessions from anywhere in Australia.
WorkCover, NDIS or TAC approved? YOU PAY NOTHING.
If your claim has been approved, we bill your funder directly. Zero out-of-pocket cost — no gap, no upfront payment, nothing.
Is it normal to feel guilty after losing someone to suicide?
Yes — guilt is one of the most universal experiences in suicide bereavement. It is rarely proportionate to actual responsibility. Your psychologist will work carefully and compassionately with this guilt — not to dismiss it, but to help you carry it more accurately.
Should I be worried about my own risk after losing someone to suicide?
Suicide loss is a risk factor for suicidal ideation in survivors. Please discuss any thoughts about suicide with your psychologist. If you are in crisis, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 (24/7) or call 000.
Can I access Medicare rebates?
Yes. Grief, trauma, depression, and anxiety following suicide bereavement are within the scope of Medicare-rebated psychological therapy via a Mental Health Care Plan.
Your grief is valid. Your loss is real. We’re here to support you through the hardest kind of bereavement.
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de Groot, M., de Keijser, J., Neeleman, J., Kerkhof, A., Nolen, W., & Burger, H. (2007). Cognitive behaviour therapy to prevent complicated grief among relatives and spouses bereaved by suicide: Cluster randomised controlled trial. BMJ, 334(7601), 994. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.39161.517720.55
Jordan, J. R. (2001). Is suicide bereavement different? A reassessment of the literature. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 31(1), 91–102. https://doi.org/10.1521/suli.31.1.91.21310
Neimeyer, R. A. (2016). Techniques of grief therapy: Assessment and intervention. Routledge.
Shear, M. K., Reynolds, C. F., Simon, N. M., Zisook, S., Wang, Y., Mauro, C., Duan, N., Lebowitz, B., & Skritskaya, N. (2016). Optimizing treatment of complicated grief: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Psychiatry, 73(7), 685–694. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2016.0892
