A Message from Ronnie Walker: "Suicide frequently leaves a legacy of guilt. No matter how peripherally they were involved with the person who died, almost all survivors report feelings of guilt. It is far worse for those who were close. Guilt is often an overriding emotion. Many survivors feel in some way responsible for doing or saying something that may have caused the death ... or for not doing something that would have prevented the death. Some survivors grapple with these feelings for a long time. Feeling like failures, they become obsessed with the “if only’s” and the “what ifs.” They replay various scenarios that might have prevented the suicide and second guess their actions.
"Father Charles Rubey, founder of the LOSS program for suicide survivors, reminds us that 'It is important to realize that our imperfections , while they can cause hurt and pain, do not cause someone to take their lives.'
Along with guilt comes blame. As families and communities grapple with with angry emotions, and try to restore some sense of control in what has now become an unpredictable life, many automatically cast blame. Blame and guilt deepen the wounds of loss and complicate the healing process.
