Survivor Stories

My association with SLW stems unfortunately from my lived experience as a suicide loss survivor. During the early days, a well-meaning acquaintance saw the agony we were in, despite the support of family and friends or the counselling we were undergoing as a family, and recommended we attend a support group session, organized by SLW. The kind souls I encountered there, be it the therapists or fellow survivors, helped me tide over the initial days and months.

Over the years, the SLW team has helped me in my journey of healing, with their infinite patience, empathetic listening and unwavering support. This last year, in an attempt to be more actively involved in working towards Suicide Prevention, I underwent the First Responders Training workshop that the SLW team has put together. I also attended the Survivors Day event organised by SLW and spoke up about my heart-breaking experience, in the hope that it will help someone else in their recovery.

Team SLW and the brave warriors and survivors I met there, you have no idea how much difference you made to my life! More power to you! May God bless you all always!

-Survivor of Suicide Loss

Losing a loved one is never easy, and the pain can be overwhelming. I lost my partner to suicide which makes grief even more complicated. The fact that me and my partner faced rejection from our families because of our sexual orientation adds another layer of complexity to grief.

It’s beautiful that I have cherished memories of our time together, and i know it’s completely normal to feel my partner’s presence sometimes. The home we shared still holds a lot of emotional significance, making it difficult for me to return to the home.

My journey has not been an easy one and I still go through ups and downs. What I have learned is It’s essential to have a network of understanding and caring individuals who can help me navigate my grief.

I have understood that grief is a journey, and there’s no set timeline for healing. To anyone who is reading this- Be patient and kind to yourself as you work through your emotions. If you ever need someone to talk to or just listen, there are resources available like Sister Living work’s
Keep in mind that you’re not alone in your grief, and there are people who care about you and want to support you through this difficult time.

-A survivor of suicide loss.

I lost my nephew to suicide 3 years back. He was such a brilliant kid, always full of life. He was studying physiotherapy, doing so well, and had his final exams coming up. The night before, he spoke to his parents, watched a match on TV, and was planning to wake up early to study—just like he always did. We never thought anything was out of the ordinary.

Around 2 a.m., my sister-in-law went in to check on him, and he was sound asleep. Everything seemed fine. But by 5 a.m., the world changed. My brother woke up to loud noises downstairs. He rushed down to find that his son had jumped from the terrace. It was a moment I’ll never forget. It didn’t make sense. There were no signs, nothing that hinted at what was coming. He was always happy, always smiling, always the top student. He had even presented papers at international seminars. He was the kind of person everyone turned to for help when they were feeling down.

So, when it happened, it hit us like a wave we couldn’t escape. i dont think we have still overcome from this. People would ask us why it happened, but we had no answers. He had his whole future ahead of him—he had even chosen a college abroad. Everyone at his current institute said they would’ve never thought he was struggling. Even they couldn’t fathom what had happened, his professors, friends everyone was shocked. But somewhere, something inside him broke, and none of us saw it coming. We could not see any signs, anything which alarmed us that was distressing him. Still the death is a mystery to us.

My brother and sister-in-law didn’t know how to cope. My brother, especially, withdrew. He started to occupy himself into his work and finished his PhD after the incident but something in him was lost. The connection was lost. The person I was closest to started to pull away. He wouldn’t pick up my calls. It’s like there was this invisible barrier between us, and for a long time, I didn’t know how to reach him. My sister-in-law, she turned inward, relying on her religious practices. Their home, which was always open and full of warmth, became cold. The door was always closed now—physically, but emotionally too. It felt like there was a “No Entry” sign on their hearts.

For a long time, I kept reaching out to them. I’d send messages, share updates about my life, hoping it would bring some connection back. At first, there was no response. It hurt so much to feel that silence. Then came a few emoticons. Slowly, very slowly, I started to get a couple of words. It took time but I’ve finally started to see a little crack in the wall between us but the wall still exists. Recently my brother reached out and asked about my life and started talking a little. It’s not easy, but it’s something.

That’s why I decided to volunteer with Sisters Living Works. I wanted to give back, to bring a little bit of joy to other families who may be going through something similar. The pain of losing someone is so deep, so immense, that it can feel like it’ll never go away. But I believe that the more we talk about it, the more we reach out, the easier it becomes to carry that pain. It’s not easy, and we might never have all the answers, but I truly believe that the more we communicate, the more we share our burdens, the less heavy they feel.

I know that if I’m struggling, I should be able to ask for help. That’s what we need as a society—to come together, to break the silence, and to support each other through the darkest moments. Healing isn’t something that happens overnight, but it’s possible if we all put in the effort, together.

– A Survivor of Suicide Loss