The Power of Recognition: Educating Ourselves to Honor Loved Ones

Today, November 23rd, is International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day. This is a profound day of remembrance, reflection, and community, especially for those of us who carry the weight of loss.

As the founder of Bloom Behavioral Health, my commitment is to nurture your mind and empower your life. On a day like this, that means offering deep compassion and a space for healing.

If you are a survivor, the grief you are experiencing is complex, overwhelming, and often isolating. You may be cycling through denial, pain, anger, and the agonizing question:  Could I have stopped this?

Please, hear this from me—a nurse practitioner who has dedicated her life to mental health: You cannot prevent something that you do not realize is happening. You are a loved one, not a clinician. You loved them fully in the role you held. The tragic outcome was a result of an illness that often operates in secret, and it is not your fault. Let the heavy burden of blame go. Your heart is already carrying enough.

Honoring Them Through Knowledge

While we cannot erase the past, we can honor the memory of those we lost by using their story to help others. The best thing we can do now is to commit to learning the warning signs of struggle. Knowledge gives us the power to protect those who are still here and who may be walking a similar path.

Here are some of the crucial signs that someone may be thinking about suicide. If you notice these behaviors are new or have increased recently, please seek help immediately:

• Talking About: Wanting to die, great guilt or shame, or being a burden to others.
• Feeling: Empty, hopeless, trapped, or having no reason to live; extremely sad, more anxious, agitated, or full of rage; or unbearable emotional or physical pain.
• Changing Behavior: Displaying extreme mood swings, making a plan or researching ways to die; withdrawing from friends, saying goodbye, giving away important items, or making a will.

Please, Take Care of Yourself

This day can be incredibly triggering, and the process of grieving a suicide loss is one of the hardest journeys a person can face.

As a busy nurse practitioner and single mother, I know how easy it is to pour all your energy into others until you are running on empty. But you deserve care, too. Your healing is paramount.

If you are struggling with your grief, feeling overwhelmed, or experiencing any changes in your own mental health (such as difficulty sleeping, intense sadness, or hopelessness), please reach out for support. You don't have to carry this alone.

Resources for Help and Healing

If you are in crisis:

• Call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
• Chat at 988lifeline.org.

If you need support in New Orleans or virtually in Louisiana:

• Bloom Behavioral Health is here to provide medication management and brief psychotherapy to help you navigate your mental wellness.
• Seek out support groups specific to suicide loss. Finding others who truly understand your unique pain is a vital step toward healing.

We see you, we honor your loss, and we stand ready to support you on your journey of healing.