Mental health support groups combine empathy, understanding, and guidance to create a safe space for those dealing with the grief of losing someone to suicide. It takes a unique set of skills to facilitate these support groups and ensure every attendee has a chance to deal with their loss however they feel comfortable. The Arkansas Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) offers two suicide bereavement support group trainings, one for facilitators of veteran support groups and one for facilitators of support groups for the public. The AFSP Facilitator Training Program offers organizers a way to create and facilitate a community support group for suicide loss survivors in the aftermath of suicide.
Global estimates suggest that almost 700,000 people die from suicide every year. A suicide death not only affects the well-being of loved ones within the immediate circle. It also has ripple effects on others outside the circle, including passers-by, neighbors, and even professionals caring for the person.
Coping and adapting to a loss by suicide can be challenging to overcome, especially when everyone grieves differently. Researchers believe that one of the key ways to help loss survivors overcome these challenges is to provide a wide range of support, including resources, help lines, and support groups.
Suicide bereavement support groups are widely available, peer-led solutions known to successfully reduce distress and risk of mental and emotional problems that result from witnessing or experiencing the loss of a loved one due to suicide. Bereavement support groups often implement open dialogue, activities, and healthy coping strategies focused on shared experience and mutual assistance. They are often led by trained peers who have similar experiences to the attendees who have learned to cope with loss and manage their emotions in a healthy way.
Training Led by Experts
AFSP offers training for individuals who wish to lead bereavement support groups. The AFSP Facilitator Training Program consists of two-day training sessions for up to 36 attendees. The sessions include lectures, interactive discussions, and role-playing. Each session is led by experts in suicide bereavement. AFSP offers one course for facilitating adult support groups and another for facilitating child and teen support groups. AFSP also offers a training program specifically for those who wish to start a support group for veterans and their families who have lost a loved one due to suicide.
“The training is divided into classroom-like lessons that teach suicide death, facilitator skills, group skills, and basics on setting up a group,” trainer Dr. Pamela Gabbay says. “There are also group practice, role-playing, and discussion of challenging experiences designed to better prepare facilitators.”
Trainers follow a specific curriculum for all training, and each brings their own experience and expertise to the content. Each attendee is given a manual to follow and a PowerPoint presentation outlining each lesson's main points.
“The training is not meant to be a counseling or therapy experience. Instead, we discuss and practice how to facilitate a group that discusses difficult topics. We look at where each person is in their own grieving process and if the person is ready to begin facilitating on their own,” Pamela adds.
Self-Care for Trainers
“Self-care is certainly a focus as well,” trainer Joan Hoff adds. “Each training participant receives ongoing support from AFSP through a monthly drop-in call.” It’s all about providing the trainers with the resources and skills to feel comfortable leading a group. The drop-in calls are open forums where facilitators can ask questions and learn from one another. Calls are free to join and last about one hour.
AFSP also offers a one-hour recorded webinar hosted by Dr. Gabbay, instructing facilitators on how to hold bereavement support groups online, navigating the logistics of online support groups, and practical ways to facilitate a virtual group.
For those who have recently experienced a loss themselves but would still like to facilitate a group, AFSP recommends waiting at least two years after experiencing a suicide loss to attend the training. This will allow plenty of time for the loss survivor to manage their feelings and deal with the loss of a loved one before training to help others manage their grief.
Who Can Attend the Training?
While anyone is welcome to attend the training, AFSP’s website points out specific experts the training is tailored to, including:
- Mental health professionals and survivors of suicide loss who want to start a support group
- Current group facilitators who want to strengthen their skills, stay up to date on the latest practices, and explore issues they have encountered while facilitating
- Survivors of suicide loss who have waited at least two years after experiencing a suicide loss
- Non-clinicians who have at least one year of experience participating in a support group
Mental health professionals and survivors of suicide loss who are part of the VA/military community who want to start a support group are also encouraged to attend the training.
Arkansas Bereavement Support Group Trainings
The Arkansas chapter of the AFSP is offering two training sessions in September. The Suicide Bereavement Training for the VA/Military Community will be on September 23 and 24 in North Little Rock. The Suicide Bereavement Support Group Facilitator Training for the public will be on September 26 and 27 in Fort Smith. Both sessions are free, and hotel accommodation is available for those traveling from out of town. Attendance is mandatory for both days, and attendees who complete the training receive a certificate of completion.
Once attendees complete the training and start their own support group, their group is added to AFSP’s national database, allowing individuals from across the U.S. to find virtual and in-person support groups by zip code.
The profound journey of healing and understanding after the loss of a loved one to suicide is a path fraught with complex emotions and challenges. AFSP recognizes this delicate journey and provides training for facilitators of suicide bereavement support groups. Through this specialized training – tailored for veterans' group facilitators and those leading groups for the public – AFSP ensures that survivors of suicide loss are met with empathy, understanding, and skilled guidance. This commitment to facilitating safe and supportive spaces is crucial for enabling individuals to navigate their grief in a way that feels right for them, helping to foster a community grounded in compassion and mutual support.
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