OVERVIEW

The Suicide Survivor Course is organized by Professional Development Resources (PDR), Inc.

Course Description:
The Suicide Survivor is a 2-hour online continuing education (CE) course that provides an understanding and means of helping the people who have lost loved ones to suicide.

One of the most difficult and complex emotional adjustments many individuals will ever face is the challenging and often lengthy process of dealing with the suicide of a family member or other loved one. These people are called suicide survivors; the family members and close friends who have experienced the death of a family member or loved one by suicide.

Unfortunately, this is a common occurrence because nearly 45,000 people die by suicide each year in the United States alone. Estimates are that an average of six individuals experience major life disruption as a consequence of every suicide. The cascade of emotions that follow can be both unexpected and overwhelming, and many of the survivors who most need assistance in the form of supportive counseling do not receive it.

This course will provide information and helping strategies for health professionals who work with individuals who are struggling with both “normal” grief and complicated grief, sometimes described as “persistent complex bereavement disorder.” Also discussed are myths about coping with grief, the progression through the grief of suicide, stigmas associated with suicide, assessing for religious help, theories of grief, role of the therapist, needs of suicide survivors, and, finally, moving on.

Learning Objectives:
• Describe the characteristics of various types of grief
• Identify feelings and reactions that are common among suicide survivors
• List the elements of each of the four waves of emotional adjustment to suicide
• Identify five different theories of grief and grieving
• Describe the various roles of the counselor in the grief counseling process
• Identify coping mechanisms and “moving on” strategies for suicide survivors.