You don’t have to go through this alone
Losing someone to suicide can feel overwhelming, confusing, and deeply painful.
Support is available — and you can choose what feels right for you, in your own time.
Everyone’s experience of suicide loss is different.
There’s no “right way” to grieve, and no timeline you need to follow.
If you’re here, it may be because things feel heavy, complicated, or hard to carry on your own. You deserve support that respects where you’re at.
If you are in immediate danger, please contact emergency services.
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Ways we can support you
People affected by suicide often describe feeling shock, guilt, anger, numbness, confusion, or exhaustion — sometimes all at once.
These responses are common, and they don’t mean you’re doing anything wrong.
Support can help you make sense of what you’re carrying, at a pace that feels safe for you.
Learn about support after suicide
Understand what support can look like after losing someone to suicide.
Find out what postvention support involves, who it’s for, and how it can help — whether the loss is recent or from some time ago.
Find postvention services
Connect with specialised support services for people bereaved by suicide.
Services like StandBy offer free, confidential support for individuals, families, friends, and communities impacted by suicide.
Support for family & friends
If you’re supporting someone else after a suicide loss, help is available for you too.
Caring for others can be exhausting. You don’t have to manage it alone.
Support for friends and family
When someone dies by suicide, it doesn’t just affect one person.
Friends, family members, carers, and others close to them can all be deeply impacted — sometimes in different ways.
Postvention support is available for:
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Partners, parents, siblings, and extended family
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Friends, classmates, colleagues, and carers
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People supporting someone else who is grieving
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Adults and children who have been affected by the loss
Support for friends and family can include someone to talk to, help understanding grief after suicide, and practical guidance during a difficult time. It can also help you support others while looking after your own wellbeing.
You don’t need to have all the answers or know what to say.
Children and young people can be deeply affected when someone they know dies by suicide.
Grief may show up in different ways — through changes in behaviour, emotions, sleep, school, or relationships — and it may look different to adult grief.
Postvention support for children and young people can include:
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A safe space to talk about what has happened, at their own pace
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Support that helps them understand and express their feelings
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Counselling and ongoing support tailored to their age and needs
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Support for parents, carers, teachers, and others who are helping them
Support is available whether the loss was recent or happened some time ago. Children and young people don’t need to be in crisis to receive help, and families can reach out even if they’re unsure what kind of support is needed.
You don’t have to manage this alone. Support can help children and young people feel heard, understood, and supported as they navigate grief after suicide.
Support services available for grief after suicide
Grief after suicide can affect people in different ways — emotionally, physically, and socially. You don’t have to navigate this on your own.
In Western Australia, free and confidential postvention services are available to support individuals, families, and communities impacted by suicide loss.
Understand what support can look like after losing someone to suicide
Postvention support is about caring for people after a suicide loss.
It recognises that grief after suicide can be complex and different for everyone.
Support may include:
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Someone to talk to about what you’re going through
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Help understanding and coping with grief after suicide
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Practical guidance during a difficult time
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Support for individuals, families, children, and carers
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Connection to other services or support groups if helpful
Postvention support is available whether the loss happened recently or some time ago. You don’t need to be in crisis to reach out, and there is no “right time” to ask for help.
Support can meet you where you are — offering care, understanding, and space to take things one step at a time.
Calling a helpline?
Common reasons for calling a helpline
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feelings of overwhelm, stress, loneliness, anxiety or depression
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having family/relationship issues
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having addiction or substance abuse issues
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feeling unsafe (such as having thoughts of suicide or self-harm)
Is it confidential?
All conversations with a helpline are confidential.
The only time they care share your information is if they think you are in serious and immediate danger and believe it is the only way to help you stay safe.
In this case, they will make sure you have professional help straight away.
What can I expect when I call a helpline?
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A prerecorded message about the service you have called, this may include wait times if there are any
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The helpline operator will ask you a few basic questions like your first name (which you don’t need to share), general location and why you are calling.
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They will not ask for identifying information unless you show signs of being at risk of harm to yourself or others
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The helpline worker will listen carefully to your problem and offer you emotional support and advice.
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Their priority is to make sure you are safe. They will then work with you to figure out the next steps e.g. finding in-person support
Who are helpline workers?
Helpline workers are trained professionals or volunteers who are there to listen, support and guide you through difficult situations in a non-judgemental way.
Depending on the helpline, they may include
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counsellors
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crisis responders
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support workers
More information:
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Many helplines have text helpline or webchat options available as alternative to phone calls.
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Calling a helpline is free or very low cost
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Helplines can offer immediate emotional support but they aren’t always equipped to handle long-term care.
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It is ok to ask for more help if you need it.
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The helpline worker can guide you towards many other resources or services
Ngaala Kaaditj Noongar moort keyen kaadak nidja boodja. We respectfully acknowledge the Whadjuk people of the Noongar Nation as the Traditional Custodians on this land on which we meet. We pay our respects to their strength, cultural resilience and the Elders past and present, and their continuing connection to the land on which we live, work and play. We welcome and support the proposal of the Voice and accept the invitation made to us though the Uluru Statement of the Heart.
Note: This website provides general mental health information only and is not a substitute for professional medical, psychological, or crisis care
Research & Privacy Notice:
Engage Connect is part of a research initiative focused on interrupting distress and redirecting people to support services. No personal or identifiable information is collected or used. Limited, non‑identifiable demographic data may be used for research purposes to help understand mental health needs across Western Australia.
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