LOS ANGELES – In some ways, those left behind after a suicide are the forgotten victims. They suffer posttraumatic stress disorder and are at high risk for taking their own lives – but often have a hard time finding help.
That’s why Ronnie S. Walker, a licensed clinical mental health counselor in the Chicago area, founded the Alliance of Hope for Suicide Survivors, an online resource with a clinically moderated forum where survivors can share their stories and get help from one another and from professionals. About 20,000 people visit the website each month, and a few new survivors join the forum just about every day.
In this video, Ms. Walker, a survivor herself, shared her insights about what those left behind go through and the help that they need at the annual conference of the American Association of Suicidology.