When John Whitebrook’s son died by suicide, he struggled to find people who understood what he was going through.
That is why John now helps run the Ealing branch of Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SoBS), a national charity that provides peer support to adults affected by suicide loss. The local SoBS group, which started in February 2024, welcomes people from West London and neighbouring areas.
Following World Suicide Prevention Day last week (10 September), John is encouraging others affected by suicide bereavement to seek support. He says one of SoBS’s greatest strengths is bringing together people who understand the challenges of suicide bereavement from personal experience.
People bereaved by suicide can experience feelings of shock, isolation, guilt and anger. Research published in The Lancet Psychiatry found that people bereaved by suicide may be at greater risk of mental health difficulties and suicidal thoughts.
John said: “People often tell us that those in the room are the only people who truly understand what they’re going through because they’ve experienced something similar themselves.
“We want to make sure that anyone bereaved by suicide doesn’t feel like they have to cope on their own.”
Where and when do they meet?
The Ealing SoBS group meets on the second Thursday of each month in the Ealing Broadway area.
To protect the privacy and confidentiality of people attending, specific meeting locations are only shared with people who contact the group and confirm they have been bereaved by suicide.
The group offers a welcoming space where people can talk openly, listen to others and connect with people who understand the experience of losing someone to suicide. Attendance is flexible, with people attending whether their bereavement was recent or many years ago.
Anyone interested in attending or finding out more can email ealing@uksobs.org.
More help available
If you are struggling or affected by any of the issues in this story, you can call Samaritans free on 116 123 or visit the Samaritans website for support.
You can also access Samaritans’ Facing the Future programme, a free national service for adults bereaved by suicide.
The programme brings together small groups for six weekly online sessions, giving people a safe and confidential space where they can share experiences and support one another.
Visit the Facing the Future website to find out more.
An invaluable service
Councillor Paul Driscoll, Ealing Council’s cabinet member for healthy equal lives, said: “Organisations such as SoBS and Samaritans provide an invaluable service for people bereaved by suicide, helping them connect with others who understand what they are going through.
“We want anyone affected by suicide bereavement to know that support is available and that they do not have to face this experience alone.”
Research study seeking participants
John Whitebrook, who helps run the Ealing SoBS group, is also conducting research at the University of West London into the uptake of support by adult men in the UK and Ireland who have been bereaved by suicide.
The anonymous study is seeking participants who:
- Are adult men (18+)
- Live in the UK or Ireland
- Have been bereaved by suicide
Participants will be asked to complete six questionnaires, which take approximately 15 to 30 minutes in total.
To take part in the study, visit the University of West London web page or email john.whitebrook@research.uwl.ac.uk.
Show your support
This month, the national SoBS organisation is marking its 35th anniversary and encouraging people to take part in a month-long walking challenge with a collective target of 35 million steps, representing 1 million steps for every year SoBS has been supporting people bereaved by suicide.
To find out more, and how to take part, go to the SoBS website.
