Guilt - Forgiveness

“Sadly, despite your best efforts, suicide is not always preventable. Guilt seems to be an emotion universal to all who are left behind after a loved one’s suicide, and overcoming it might be your greatest obstacle on the path to healing. You are not responsible for your loved one’s choice to end their life.”

“Parents need to remind themselves that, while they have great influence over their children’s lives, they do not personally create every aspect of their children’s being. . . . From their earliest years, children are shaped by an assortment of outside influences [and internal conditions] beyond the control of parents.”.

“Spouses also tend to feel acutely guilty for a suicide. The natural partnership that comprises marriage implies a mutual responsibility to look after each other. But spouses need to realize that the root causes of suicide—notably clinical depression—are beyond the control of even the most devoted husband or wife” (Jeffrey Jackson, “SOS: A Handbook for Survivors of Suicide” [American Association of Suicidology], yourlifecounts.org).https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/get-help/suicide/did-i-do-something-wrong?lang=eng

“Forgiveness is a very difficult concept for many suicide loss survivors. Some may feel they cannot forgive themselves for the things they feel guilty about. Forgiveness does not mean you have to let go of guilt you may feel, or emotions you hold toward the person you’ve lost. Forgiveness and guilt are not opposites: they go hand in hand. You can feel guilty, and also forgive yourself, at the same time.” –Noam Schneck, Ph.D. https://afsp.org/story/suicide-loss-and-the-holidays 

“Heaven is filled with those who have this in common: They are forgiven. And they forgive.” -Dieter F. Uchdorf