Quotes about Surviving Suicide Loss

Surviving the loss of a loved one to suicide is a profound experience that can leave individuals with intricate types of grief and a myriad of emotional wounds. While the pain of such aloss may never fully subside, there are actionable steps that can be taken to cultivate healing and find meaning in the aftermath. Here you'll find a collection of comforting quotes, each one reflecting the unique perspective of a survivor.

1. "Healing is not about moving on or 'getting over it,' it’s about learning to make peace with our pain and finding purpose in our lives again." — Shirley Kamisky

2. "Moving on doesn’t mean letting go." — Mary VanHaute

3. "Grief is like the ocean; it comes on waves ebbing and flowing. Sometimes the water is calm, and sometimes it is overwhelming. All we can do is learn to swim." — Vicki Harrison

4. "If you’ve lost a loved one to suicide—even if you, yourself, have dealt with depression and suicidal ideation—you may often wonder why. And that’s okay. Allow yourself that space." — Karen Espenshade

5. "One thing I learned is however I decided to grieve is the right way for me. Everyone’s different." — Ron Prackett

6. "Loss from suicide is like no other loss, and there’s no time limit for grieving. Allow yourself that time to process. And then talk to someone, anyone." — Deenie Bagley

7. "The best piece of advice I got was, 'Once you accept that many, if not most, of your questions will never be answered, you can start to move forward.'" — Michele Starbeck

8. "Talk about them. Be proud of them. Losing a courageous battle doesn’t make you weak" — Jennifer Betts

9. "A person never truly gets over a suicide loss. You get through it. Day by day. Sometimes it’s moment by moment" — Holly Kohle

10. "Continue to live your life, know that it’s OK to smile again. Don’t ever be ashamed or let anyone make you feel ashamed." — Jackie Burson

11. "Read books written by other survivors. Write." — Shakeena faith

12. "One day you’ll wake up and things won’t hurt as bad. You’ll be able to remember the good things about your friend and not just the end. For me, that’s when I knew I was finally able to move on." — Kristin Svinth

13. "One thing I learned is however I decided to grieve is the right way for me. Everyone’s different." — Ron Prackett

14. "Don’t become a statistic yourself. Get counseling and be open to psychiatry if you need it." — Christine Anderson

15. "Be patient with yourself. One day you’ll be able to celebrate the life and not focus on the method of death. Please, please, just be patient." — Judi Swenson

16. "The best piece of advice I got was, 'Once you accept that many, if not most, of your questions will never be answered, you can start to move forward.'" — Michele Starbeck

17. "You will survive, and you will find purpose in the chaos. Moving on doesn’t mean letting go." — Mary VanHaute

18. "So far, the best thing for me has been advocating during difficult times for prevention. It helps me to focus on the positive." — Sherrie Gerdon

19. **"The 'ton of bricks' that are thrust upon your shoulders by a loved ones’ suicide never goes away. But you do get stronger shoulders." — Frank Kaufman"

Some answers have been edited for clarity and brevity. If you or someone you know needs help, see our suicide prevention resources.