Community Resources available in the St Louis Region for Survivors.

Grieving the loss of a loved one by suicide can be one of the most complicated and difficult grieving processes. It may require a combination of professional, spiritual, community, friends, family and peer support. For many survivors, their most basic trust in the world and in themselves has been shattered by the suicide, leaving them to wonder if they will ever feel normal and happy again. The Community Resources listed below will offer survivors the opportunity to feel less isolated and alone, and provide an opportunity for survivors to talk openly with others who truly understand because they have been through it, too.

* Survivors of Suicide Response Team SSRT

SSRT strives to identify, engage, support and educate survivors as soon as possible following their loss. Team members are trained peer survivors, counselors, social workers, and community service providers who visit with newly bereaved individuals and families. They will:

1.Share the message that surviving the tragedy of suicide is possible.

2. Promote resilience through caring, availability and understanding.

3.Explain the grief process, stages of mourning, and what to emotionally expect.

4.Help survivors cope with the difficulties and unique challenges that follow suicide.

Call KUTO 314-963-7571

* Survivors of Suicide (SOS) Support Group in St Louis

This list is for members of the Survivors of Suicide (SOS) Support Group in Saint Louis, Missouri. They meet every Wednesday night from 7:00-8:30 PM at Provident Counseling located at 2650 Olive St. near the AG Edwards building downtown. Phone: (314) 647-3100 New survivors are always welcome to attend meetings.

More Information About these Meetings

* PALS Parents Affected by the Loss of a child from Suicide
PALS is a support group specifically for parents who have lost a child to suicide. Meetings are facilitated by other parent survivors. This group meets the second Tuesday of the month 7pm-8:30pm and the Fourth Saturday of the month 10:30am to 12pm. For more information, call Linda at 314-853-7925 or Sandy at 314-518-2302.

* Unmasking Suicide

This organization has been establish to address the stigmas surrounding suicide, with an emphasis in the African American Community, to provide support to families that are suicide survivors and to conduct and participate in awareness and prevention efforts surrounding African American suicide.

Support Group Meeting at Prince Hall Family Support Center in St. Louis. Prince Hall is located at 4411 Newstead Avenue. These meetings will be held every third Thursday of the month at 6:30 to 8:00 pm. All are welcomed 1-877-600-1028 http://www.webspawner.com/users/unmasking/

* Annie’s Hope
The Support Groups for children, teens, and the adults in their lives, meet once a week for eight weeks & last for one and a half hours. We hope you will join the other kids and their families who are grieving the death of someone significant. For further information or to make a referral, call Annie’s Hope at 314-965-5015 (Office), 314-918-1438 (Fax), annieshopekids@aol.com (E-Mail Address), or www.annieshope.org (Web Site).

* Bereaved Parents of the USA St Louis Chapter Gateway to Healing Surviving the Death of a child, is a nationwide organization designed to aid and support parents and their families who are struggling to survive their grief after the death of a child. Call 314-878-0890 www.bpusastl.org

* KUTO-SurvivAbility

Matches a youth survivor and a volunteer to engage in a private conversation about loss.

314-963-7571 www.KUTO.org

Employee Assistance Programs Many corporations offer limited counseling for employees and their families for no charge. This may be a good start or option for counseling

* Your Church Community may have someone that can counsel you or a Consolation Group. Most churches now accept suicide as a result of a biological illness, and are very supportive of survivors. However, some churches may still judge suicide as a serious wrong doing or sin. If that is the case in your church, look somewhere else for your support. Unfortunately, stigma was and may still be deeply rooted in your church.

* Family and Friends can be a potential strong support system for you or a healthy supplement to other community and professional resources.

Find More Information in the Folowing Articles:

To The Newly Bereaved After Suicide

What does time have to do with grief

Bearing The Special Grief of Suicide