These are a list of books I found to be very helpful when I was working through the grief process after 2 suicide attempts by the same person in my family in a matter of 8 months. While they were not specifically about suicide attempts, and helping and healing after an attempt, I did find useful information in them and hope you will too. If you would like to purchase any of these books the title of the book has a link embedded in it, simply click!
Attempted Suicide: The Essential Guidebook for Loved Ones
By Juliet Kirwan Carr
Attempted Suicide: The Essential Guidebook for Loved Ones is the product of years of research and lived experience. This book provides the reader with:
* a sense of community and normalcy
* commonalities experienced by people who love
someone who has attempted suicide
* a guidebook for healing
* hope and encouragement for the future
* answers to frequently asked questions
* timeline for experiences
* guidance for emotions and incidents
It is the author’s greatest wish this book will provide the reader peace, hope and resources to assist on the journey back to health.
Hidden Victims, Hidden Healers
By Julie Tallard Johnson Hidden Victims, Hidden Healers spoke to me in so many ways and I found it very helpful. Julie describes the different roles people play when in relationships with people who are mentally ill and then provides an eight-stage healing process for families and friends of the mentally ill. My favorite quote from this book is ” The question is not Why or How but What? What is happening and what is the next action that can be taken?….Who do we help by getting stuck in the Why’s and How’s? We help no one.” I was very stuck in the Why did this suicide attempt happen? How could this have happened? This book helped me move on to more effective questions and actions.
I am not Sick, I Don’t Need Help
By Xavier Amador Ph.D.
The information in this book helped me to understand mental illness better and understand the different ways we all work to cope, help, and be healthy when in relationships with people who have a mental illness. I am not Sick, I Don’t Need Help encouraged me to find better words to use and kinder ways to work with myself and others.
By Beverly Cobain & Jean Larch
This book helped me understand that suicidal thoughts can and do happen to anyone and that those thoughts come and go. They are not permanent. They are not a life sentence. I liked the personal honest stories.
By Paulo Coelho My book review can be found here.
