Diane recently featured in this video from Nepean Blue Mountains Suicide Prevention Collaborative.
When Grief Runs Deep: Holding Space for Suicide Loss and Mental Health Struggles
At Hope4U, we understand that some wounds aren’t visible. They’re carried in silence — in the spaces between anniversaries, in the empty chairs at dinner, and in the questions that never seem to have answers.
The video above captures the heartache and courage of people who have lived through the unthinkable — the loss of loved ones to suicide, the rawness of suicidal thoughts, and the quiet strength it takes to go on. These voices are brave. They speak truth without filters, because healing begins with honesty.
“I still grieve. I still cry. I still miss them.”
Grief after suicide doesn’t follow a timeline. It doesn’t get “better” in a straight line. For many, it softens — but it never truly disappears. The memories, the reflections, and the waves of emotion still come. That’s normal. That’s love.
Whether you’ve lost a child, a parent, a friend, a colleague, or someone who simply mattered — your grief is valid. Your story deserves space.
The power of reaching in
As one voice in the video shares, asking for help when you’re at rock bottom is incredibly hard. But what if we shifted the conversation? What if, instead of just telling people to “reach out,” we also prepared ourselves to reach in?
One thoughtful question, one moment of truly seeing someone, can be lifesaving.
Sometimes we’re afraid to say the wrong thing — but silence can be far more dangerous. Asking someone if they’re okay, really okay, and being prepared for the honest answer is how we keep each other safe.
“Yes, I needed attention. I needed help.”
There’s a heartbreaking stigma around suicide attempts being “just attention seeking.” But attention isn’t a dirty word. If someone is crying out for help, then our attention is exactly what they need — not shame, not dismissal.
As one of the speakers bravely says: “If I had received support or understanding in that moment… it could’ve made all the difference.”
We must listen better. We must respond with care, not judgement.