Suicide bereavement refers to the deep and complex grief experienced by family, friends and others after experiencing the loss of a loved one to suicide. Studies show that those affected often face intense loss, guilt, confusion and stigma. These emotions can lead to prolonged challenges, highlighting the need for compassionate support throughout the grieving process.

Recent research from Western Michigan University indicates that suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States. The Zero Suicide Alliance further reveals that individuals bereaved by the sudden death of a friend or family member are 65% more likely to attempt suicide themselves. These statistics underscore why it is important to support those who are grieving after a suicide.

 Three years ago, Mike and Carla Brower experienced the loss of their 23-year-old son Joe, to suicide. This heartbreaking loss initiated the beginning of a healing journey for the Brower family. 

Their travels toward healing have taken them through various healing programs and support groups. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention played a key role in their journey, as Mike Brower completed the program and then trained to lead bereavement classes. Mike and Carla Brower also completed a Question Persuade Refer class, which teaches individuals how to recognize the warning signs of suicidal ideation. Before losing their son, the Browers were already helping others as support group facilitators for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints addiction recovery program. 

“When we lost Joe, we truly benefited from the support of the community, but it came to the point that we felt we needed a little more,” Mike Brower said. “We realized that many people get stuck in grief after something like this, and we didn’t want that to happen to us. We wanted to begin to heal so our family attended formal therapy. Carla and I continued our search for healing, finding help through Caring Connection classes at the University of Utah and classes from the National Alliance on Mental Illness. After taking several classes from different organizations, we came to realize what we were missing was the religious part of healing.”

This realization prompted the Browers to offer Christ-centered support for grief and suicide through interfaith bereavement groups for those carrying deep grief or coping with suicide loss. The Brower’s have created a welcoming, judgment-free space where anyone seeking support and healing, regardless of faith tradition, can heal. Brower’s support groups are sponsored by the Foundation for Family Life. The support groups are peer-led and do not offer professional therapy support. For those needing a qualified therapist or counselor the Browers are happy to assist with referrals.

“In each of our group meetings, we focus on one of the common emotions that often come with suicide loss,” said Brower. “Losing someone to suicide brings up many strong and complicated emotions. Many people who join our groups say they struggle to talk about these feelings. We give everyone a chance to share their emotions and talk about how they feel. We want people to know they are not alone and that their feelings make sense. Besides grief, people may also feel a lot of guilt. There are many emotions after losing someone to suicide, and they can be very hard to handle. We talk about these feelings and discuss ways to cope.”

There are two ways to participate in group sessions: via Zoom meetings or in-person support groups held at the Foundation for Family Life center. According to the participation guidelines, because these are support groups centered on grief and healing, the facilitators take care to ensure that everyone who joins is participating for the right reasons and feels safe. When someone enters the Zoom waiting room, one of the facilitators will briefly speak with a potential group member in a one-on-one conversation before admitting them to the main group. This helps confirm that potential group members are aware of the group’s purpose, understand guidelines and feel comfortable joining. It’s not structured as an interview—it’s simply a warm check-in to ensure a safe, respectful space for everyone.

It doesn’t matter how positive life may look at the moment for an individual; suicide can affect anyone at any time. The Browers understand the heavy burden of grief and the silent ache it can leave behind. 

“In our support groups, we try to offer hope to others,” Brower said. “We want people to know there is always a place to go when they really need to talk with someone. Even in our deepest valleys, we have discovered hope, peace and healing through Jesus Christ. We are an interfaith community that offers compassion, connection and comfort.”

For more information about joining a grief support group contact Mike Brower: 

• cell: 385-277-5118
• email: [email protected] 

For those who need immediate suicide crisis intervention contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988