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The stigma that surrounds a suicide or suicide attempt often causes survivors to avoid talking about their experience, which can result in profound isolation, as well as a unique grief that can include guilt, anger, shame or embarrassment. SPAN USA’s leadership, staff, and volunteers share a profound belief in the critical importance of empowering those whose lives have been touched by suicide. By actively involving survivors in all we do, we carry the message that survivors are not alone. And by encouraging them to share their stories, we are empowering survivors to turn their grief into action to help us prevent future tragedies. We believe those stories, told to the right people at the right time, will prevent suicide. And because survivors are at a higher risk of dying by suicide themselves, SPAN USA’s efforts to engage survivors are not only about reducing stigma, but also about preventing further loss of life.
What is a survivor?
Most people do not become familiar with the term "survivor" until they have lost a loved one to suicide. But survivor refers not only to those who have survived the suicide of a loved one but also to those who have survived a suicide attempt. Each year over 180,000 Americans became survivors of suicide and 700,000 become attempt survivors. For more information specific to these two groups, click on the links below, or read the stories from survivors by clicking Share Your Story.