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Supporting Survivors of Suicide Loss: Understanding the Unique Landscape of Grief

CE Hours 1.5

About this course

While all grief presents challenges, the loss of a loved one to suicide is often profoundly complex and uniquely traumatic. Survivors of suicide loss may experience intense emotional isolation, shame, guilt, and unanswered questions. Despite needing significant support, they may encounter stigma or discomfort from their personal networks and even some care providers. This clinical training is designed to equip mental health professionals with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to support individuals grieving a suicide death. Drawing on evidence-based practices and real-world experience, the session will explore the distinct psychological and emotional terrain of suicide bereavement. Participants will leave with practical tools to address complicated grief responses, facilitate healing conversations, and help clients work through unfinished emotional business.

Learning Objectives

  • Differentiate the unique psychological and emotional dynamics of suicide bereavement from other types of loss.
  • Formulate a therapeutic alliance that helps counter the societal stigma and isolation felt by suicide loss survivors.
  • Identify factors that may increase risk for prolonged grief among survivors of suicide loss
  • Implement trauma-informed assessments and interventions in clinical practice with clients bereaved by suicide loss.

Learning Levels

  • Intermediate

Target Audience

This educational activity is intended for behavioral health professionals, including Psychologists, Social Workers, Counselors, and MFT's.

Course Instructor(s)

  • Madi Day, LMSW

    Madi is a Licensed Master Social Worker under Clinical Supervision. A graduate of OU-Tulsa’s Master of Social Work program, Madi currently serves as the Director of Community Services at The Grief Center. She holds a graduate certificate in Social Work with American Indians and is trained in providing Trauma and Grief Component Therapy for Adolescents. Madi is dedicated to supporting children and families through their grief journey. As a grief counselor, Madi provides compassionate counseling for individuals and families; facilitates therapy groups for adults and families; and engages the community through The Grief Center’s outreach services.

References

  • Adshead, C., Runacres, J., & Kevern, P. (2025). Exploring the subjective experiences of peer-led social support groups for individuals bereaved by suicide. Illness, Crisis & Loss, 33(1), 44–61. https://doi.org/10.1177/10541373231194174
  • American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed., text rev.). American Psychiatric Association Publishing.
  • Angold, A., Costello, E. J., Messer, S. C., & Pickles, A. (1995). Development of a short questionnaire for use in epidemiological studies of depression in children and adolescents. International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research, 5(4), 237–249.
  • Baugher, R., & Jordan, J. (2002). After suicide loss: Coping with your grief. The Sturbridge Group.
  • Currier, J. M., Neimeyer, R. A., & Berman, J. S. (2008). The effectiveness of psychotherapeutic interventions for bereaved persons: A comprehensive quantitative review. Psychological Bulletin, 134(5), 648–661. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.134.5.648
  • Dyregrov, K., Dyregrov, A., & Johnsen, I. (2013). Participants’ recommendations for the ideal grief group: A qualitative study. OMEGA—Journal of Death and Dying, 67(4), 363–377. https://doi.org/10.2190/OM.67.4.b
  • Dyregrov, K., Plyhn, E., & Dieserud, G. (2012). After the suicide: Helping the bereaved to find a path from grief to recovery. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
  • Fine, C. (1999). No time to say goodbye: Surviving the suicide of a loved one. Broadway Books.
  • Groos, A., & Shakespeare-Finch, J. (2013). Positive experiences for participants in suicide bereavement groups: A grounded theory model. Death Studies, 37(1), 1–24.
  • Hofmann, L., Putri, A. K., Pitman, A., Bantjes, J., Castelli Dransart, D. A., Causer, H., Cerel, J., Chow, A., De Leo, D., Feigelman, B., Genest, C., Griffin, E., Hybholt, L., Kawashima, D., Kõlves, K., Krysinska, K., Leaune, E., Leenaars, A., Levi-Belz, Y., … Andriessen, K. (2025). Perceived effectiveness of components of interventions to support people bereaved by suicide: A metareview of systematic reviews. Crisis, 46(2), 106–120. https://doi.org/10.1027/0227-5910/a000978
  • Hooper, L. M., Stockton, P., Krupnick, J. L., & Green, B. L. (2011). Development, use, and psychometric properties of the Trauma History Questionnaire. Journal of Loss and Trauma, 16(3), 258–283. https://doi.org/10.1080/15325024.2011.572035
  • Jobes, D. A. (n.d.). Cultural perspectives on suicide: How different societies approach prevention. CAMS-care. https://cams-care.com/resources/blog/cultural-perspectives-on-suicide-how-different-societies-approach-prevention/
  • Jordan, J. R., & Baugher, B. (2016). After suicide loss: Coping with your grief (2nd ed.). Caring People Press.
  • Jordan, J. R., & McIntosh, J. L. (Eds.). (2011). Grief after suicide: Understanding the consequences and caring for the survivors. Routledge.
  • Layne, C. M., Kaplow, J. B., & Pynoos, R. S. (2023, June). The Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) Short Form for Youth. OSF Preprints. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/4nec8
  • Neimeyer, R. A., & Sands, D. C. (2011). Meaning reconstruction in bereavement: From principles to practice. In R. A. Neimeyer, H. Winokuer, D. Harris, & G. Thornton (Eds.), Grief and bereavement in contemporary society: Bridging research and practice (pp. 9–22). Routledge.
  • Nicholls, T., Krysinska, K., Reifels, L., Kartal, D., & Andriessen, K. (2024). Implementation of suicide bereavement support: A scoping review. Frontiers in Public Health, 12, 1474641. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1474641
  • Osman, A., Bagge, C. L., Gutierrez, P. M., Konick, L. C., Kopper, B. A., & Barrios, F. X. (2001). The Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire–Revised (SBQ-R): Validation with clinical and nonclinical samples. Assessment, 8(4), 443–454. https://doi.org/10.1177/107319110100800409
  • Pereira, M., Moreira, A., & Dias Neto, D. (2026). From grief to growth: The role of coping strategies, kinship and cause of death. OMEGA—Journal of Death and Dying, 93(2), 1233–1249. https://doi.org/10.1177/00302228241259647
  • Pynoos, R. S., & Steinberg, A. M. (2023, August). Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Reaction Index (PTSD-RI) 5 Very Brief Form. OSF Preprints. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/en4ck
  • Rando, T. A. (1993). Treatment of complicated mourning. Research Press.
  • Sands, D. (2009). The tripartite model of suicide grief: Meaning-making and the relationship with the deceased. Grief Matters, 12, 10–17.
  • Shear, M. K. (n.d.). Overview: Complicated grief. Center for Complicated Grief, Columbia University. https://complicatedgrief.columbia.edu/professionals/complicated-grief-professionals/overview/
  • Schut, H., & Stroebe, M. (2005). The dual process model of coping with bereavement: A decade on. Death Studies, 29(3), 217–240. https://doi.org/10.1080/07481180590914559
  • Tedeschi, R. G., & Calhoun, L. G. (2004). Posttraumatic growth: Conceptual foundations and empirical evidence. Psychological Inquiry, 15(1), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327965PLI1501_01
  • Whitebrook, J., Lafarge, C., & Churchyard, J. S. (2025). A suicide bereavement model: Based on a meta-ethnography of the experiences of adult suicide loss survivors. Frontiers in Public Health, 13, 1596961. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1596961
  • Worden, J. W. (2009). Grief counseling and grief therapy: A handbook for the mental health practitioner. Springer Publishing Company.

CE Process Info

Content

  • Materials
    15 parts
    • SLIDES_ Suicide Loss
    • SCREEN_ Trauma History
    • ELUNA_ Types of Loss
    • ELUNA_ Suicide Grief 101 for Volunteers/Support Professionals
    • ELUNA_ Suicide Grief for Children & Teens
    • SCREEN_ SMFQ-R
    • SCREEN_ SBQ-R
    • SCREEN_ Brief Grief Questionnaire
    • SCREEN_ Kids Grief
    • SCREEN_ Kids Trauma
    • HANDOUT_ How to talk to a suicide loss survivor
    • Inventory of Complicated Grief
    • PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5)
    • Using the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5)
    • PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) with Criterion A
  • Recordings
    1 parts
    • Shared Screen With Speaker View(CC)
  • National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)

    The Tristesse Grief Center has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7131. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. The Tristesse Grief Center is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

  • Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)

    The Tristesse Grief Center, provider #1867, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 8/25/24-8/25/27. Social workers completing this course receive 1.5 continuing education credits.

  • Oklahoma State Board of Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors (OBLADC)

    The Tristesse Grief Center, provider #20270175, is an approved continuing education provider with the Oklahoma State Board of Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors.

  • Oklahoma Board of Behavioral Health (BBHL)

    The Tristesse Grief Center is an approved Oklahoma Board of Behavioral Health CE provider

  • Oklahoma State Board of Licensed Social Workers (OKSWB)

    The Tristesse Grief Center is an Approved Continuing Education Provider (20260014) through the Oklahoma State Board of Licensed Social Workers.

FAQs

  • What do I have to do to complete the course?
    To complete the course, review the course objectives, review the material, and then pass an exam with a score of 75% or greater. Lastly, complete the an evaluation. Note that you can not continue in the course until you complete the previous section.
  • How do I get my certificate?
    Your certificate(s) will be available to download immediately when you pass the course exam and complete the evaluation.
  • Where can I find my Attendee Dashboard link?
    Upon registering, you should receive an email from support@ce-go.com with a link to access your Attendee Dashboard. If you do not see it in your inbox, please check your spam/junk folder. If you still cannot locate the email, please email Madi Day at education@thegriefcenter.org for assistance.
  • Grievance
    If a grievance arises pertaining to continuing education activities or processes, please contact Madi Day via confidential email to education@thegriefcenter.org as soon as possible, so that the nature of the concern may be addressed in a timely fashion.
Supporting Survivors of Suicide Loss: Understanding the Unique Landscape of Grief
You Have Completed This course
$25
You are enrolled
  • CE Hours
    1.5
  • Type
    Self-Paced
  • Publication Date
    Oct 16th, 2026

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