Offering Support After Loss Due to Suicide

The death of a family member or loved one by suicide is a devastating loss. Family members often ask themselves: why, what did we miss, and how do we put the pieces of our lives back together? For those in friendship or community circles, offering thoughts and prayers is not enough. There is the personal challenge of balancing one’s own sense of loss with questions of how to support others.

Presenters Maureen Underwood and Marney Rohda will address these issues and provide their perspective garnered from decades of experience in the field of healing after traumatic loss. There will be time for participants to share their own experiences and problem-solving strategies in the aftermath of a death by suicide.

 

Maureen Underwood, LCSW

 

Maureen is a licensed clinical social worker with over 40 years’ experience in navigating grief and trauma with individuals, families, and communities. In a variety of settings ranging from hospital oncology units to families and communities impacted by 9/11 and other traumatic events, she has developed a practical approach that focuses on empowering those impacted to reach for posttraumatic growth in simple yet powerful ways. She has published widely on these topics and created online training programs that translate what she has learned in the field into practical life lessons for children and adults.

 

Marney Rohda

 

Marney Rohda started her work with communities and families who have experienced loss in 2002. In the twenty years since then, she has worked across the country in support of individuals, families, caregivers, first responders, and educators. Drawing upon her experiences, she delivers informative presentations on the subjects of grief, trauma, self-care, and suicide prevention and provides actionable suggestions for participants to bring into their own lives.