Columnists

The Impact Of Suicide… A Funeral Director’s Perspective

Issue 34.14

Millions of people are mourning the loss of actor/comedian Robin Williams, who authorities say committed suicide inside his San Francisco Bay Area home.  The Associated Press reports that he had been seeking treatment for depression.  Personally, I consider him to be one of the greatest and funniest actors of our time.  For many reasons, the loss of Mr. Williams will be deeply felt in this world.

As a Funeral Director, I witness first-hand the devastating effects of suicide.  Family members are generally shocked, dismayed, and completely broken-hearted.  Many feel unable to cope with their loved one’s decision and have difficulty carrying on with their own lives.  They also tend to carry a degree of personal guilt, and often tell me that perhaps they could have prevented the suicide “if only” they had done something differently.  The guilt they carry compounds the devastation of the death and makes it very difficult to heal.  Although I deal with numerous causes of death in my profession, suicide is often the most difficult. 

On a personal level, I have taken care of two members of my wife’s family who considered suicide to be their only option.  I also have a close high school friend that chose to end his own life.  These experiences were devastating for their families, and for me.  Suicide rates in the United States have remained high for decades, with roughly 39,000 deaths annually.  Liz Szabo recently published an article in the USA Today that states that suicide now kills twice as many people as homicides.  It also kills more people than car accidents, leukemia, or prostate cancer, yet suicide prevention receives only a fraction of the attention. 

As a funeral director, I do all I can to help the surviving family members.  I’ve spent countless hours preparing the body so family members are able to view their loved one a final time.  Viewing the body is very important to many during the grieving process and often helps facilitate healing.  When necessary, I encourage the family members to seek professional counseling. 

Anyone with suicidal thoughts should call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.

Serenity Funeral Home is located just off Riverside Drive at 1316 S. 400 E., St. George, UT.  Please contact us at (435) 986-2085, or visit us on-line at www.SerenityStG.com.

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