Suicide Loss

Any kind of death is difficult, and a death from suicide can be especially hard to cope with. It’s sudden and shocking, and may leave you with lots of questions that are difficult or impossible to answer.
Open / Close All Content
Share:

The Mental Health Foundation provides information and advice to help people support themselves and each other after a suicide death.

Through this website and the Mental Health Foundation's information service, we can link people directly to information about the support available, so no one has to go through suicide bereavement alone.
If you lose someone by suicide, you may experience all kinds of emotions and physical reactions to the stress you are under. You may feel you will never recover from the loss, and even feel you don’t know how you are going to carry on. Coming to terms with what has happened will take time.

There are support groups around New Zealand that can offer support and help if you need it. Visit our Suicide bereavement support groups NZ to find a group near you.

Resources

Helplines

  • Need to talk? Free call or text 1737 any time for support from a trained counsellor.
  • Lifeline – 0800 543 354 (0800 LIFELINE) for counselling and support.
  • Skylight – 0800 299 100 for support through trauma, loss and grief; 9am-5pm weekdays.
  • Depression Helpline – 0800 111 757 to talk to a trained counsellor about how you are feeling or to ask any questions.
  • Healthline – 0800 611 116 for advice from trained registered nurses.
  • Samaritans – 0800 726 666.
  • Youthline – 0800 376 633, free text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz. For young people, and their parents, whānau and friends.
  • What's Up – 0800 942 8787 – for 5–18-year-olds; Mon to Fri midday–11pm and weekends 3pm–11pm.