LGBTIQA+ Support After Suicide bereavement groups
Losing someone to suicide is a devastating, heartbreaking and painful experience.
LGBTIQA+ Support After Suicide bereavement groups are a free program for LGBTIQA+ people who have been bereaved through suicide. We are running this peer-led program in partnership with Support After Suicide at Jesuit Social Services, to create a safe and specialised service that supports LGBTIQA+ suicide loss survivors on their healing journey through grief.
What are LGBTIQA+ suicide bereavement groups?
Bereavement support groups can benefit LGBTIQA+ people by helping them connect with others in a supportive peer space who are also bereaved by suicide.
The aim of our LGBTIQA+ Support After Suicide bereavement groups is to create a warm, affirming and compassionate service for LGBTIQA+ people where their lives, relationships, experiences and the unique challenges they face after a suicide are understood.
In our LGBTIQA+ suicide bereavement support groups, participants will benefit from:
participating in facilitated discussions with other group members on a different topic or theme each session
spending time and experiencing peer connections with other LGBTIQA+ people who are going through suicide loss
gaining insight about their individual experience of healing by deepening understanding about the challenges of bereavement through suicide
experiencing a safe, supportive and accessible environment for LGBTIQA+ people
About the Groups
Our LGBTIQA+ suicide bereavement groups are run twice per year.
Each group is small with between 5 to 8 participants.
The groups run for 8 sessions. Sessions run on the same weeknight over eight consecutive weeks, with the same participants attending every week.
The group is led by LGBTQIA+ identifying facilitators from both Jesuit Social Services and Switchboard Victoria. Our organisations have worked together to provide a program reflective of the needs of LGBTQIA+ communities who are bereaved by suicide.
Who can attend?
The LGBTIQA+ bereavement support groups are open to members of the LGBTIQA+ community who:
have lost someone to suicide with whom they had a close personal relationship such as a partner, chosen family, family member or a close friend
are aged 21 years and older
based in Victoria or NSW
have been bereaved by suicide for around 3 – 24 months
Groups are free to attend. Participants do not need to have a Medicare card or mental health care plan.
Next Group Details:
The next group is likely to commence in April 2024, online via Zoom. If you are interested in participating in the next group or future groups, we encourage you to get in touch via the form on our website. We can speak with you further about options for coming along.
How can I join?
If you are interested in attending a LGBTIQA+ suicide bereavement support group, please fill out the form below, email us at bereavement@switchboard.org.au or leave a voice message at 0437 918 239
Our Switchboard LGBTIQA+ bereavement group facilitator will contact you directly. They will answer all your questions and help you decide if our program suits you.
If you are unable to attend on the upcoming dates or are unsure of whether our program is right for you, please get in touch.
Contact us if you are interested in future groups or further suicide bereavement support we may offer.
LGBTIQA+ Suicide Bereavement
Support Groups
Get support now
If you are thinking about suicide or require immediate support contact Rainbow Door.
Phone: 1800 729 367
Text: 0480 017 246
Email: support@rainbowdoor.org.au
LGBTIQA+ suicide
safety resources
Switchboard has a number of resources to support you and the people you love. Check out our Training and Resources for more information.
LGBTIQA+ Suicide Safety Card
Designed to keep you safe, the Suicide Safety Card is for you to carry around either on your phone or in your wallet.
Let’s Talk About Suicide Podcast
Experiencing loss through suicide is a grief like no other. It can be difficult to find others who have similar experience and are open to talking about their loss, especially other LGBTIQA+ people.
Listen to LGBTIQA+ people talk about loss through suicide on this podcast produced by JOY Media with Switchboard and Support After Suicide.