LGBTIQA+ suicide
bereavement groups
Losing someone to suicide is a devastating, heartbreaking and painful experience
LGBTIQA+ Support After Suicide bereavement groups are a free program for LGBTIQA+ people who have been bereaved through suicide.
We are running this peer-led program in partnership with Support After Suicide at Jesuit Social Services, to create a safe and specialised service that supports LGBTIQA+ suicide loss survivors on their healing journey through grief.
What are LGBTIQA+ suicide bereavement groups
Bereavement support groups can benefit LGBTIQA+ people by helping them connect with others in a supportive peer space who are also bereaved by suicide.
The aim of our LGBTIQA+ Support After Suicide bereavement groups is to create a warm, affirming and compassionate service for LGBTIQA+ people where their lives, relationships, experiences and the unique challenges they face after a suicide are understood.
In our LGBTIQA+ suicide bereavement support groups, participants will benefit from:
participating in facilitated discussions with other group members on a different topic or theme each session
spending time and experiencing peer connections with other LGBTIQA+ people who are going through suicide loss
gaining insight about their individual experience of healing by deepening understanding about the challenges of bereavement through suicide
experiencing a safe, supportive and accessible environment for LGBTIQA+ people
About the groups
Our LGBTIQA+ suicide bereavement groups are run twice per year.
Each group is small with between 5 to 8 participants.
The groups run for 8 sessions. Sessions run on the same weeknight over eight consecutive weeks, with the same participants attending every week.
The group is led by LGBTQIA+ identifying facilitators from both Jesuit Social Services and Switchboard Victoria. Our organisations have worked together to provide a program reflective of the needs of LGBTQIA+ communities who are bereaved by suicide.
Who can attend?
The LGBTIQA+ bereavement support groups are open to members of the LGBTIQA+ community who:
have lost someone to suicide with whom they had a close personal relationship such as a partner, chosen family, family member or a close friend
are aged 18 years and older
based in Victoria or NSW
have been bereaved by suicide for around 3 – 24 months
Groups are free to attend. Participants do not need to have a Medicare card or mental health care plan.
Further information
Our next group details
The next 8 week bereavement group will start on April 2025.
If you are interested in participating in the next group or future groups, we encourage you to get in touch via the form on our website. After a conversation with our Switchboard LGBTIQA+ facilitator, we can add your name to the waiting list for the next group.
How can I join?
If you are interested in attending a LGBTIQA+ suicide bereavement support group, please fill out the form below, email us at bereavement@switchboard.org.au or leave a voice message at 0437 918 239
Our Switchboard LGBTIQA+ bereavement group facilitator will contact you directly. They will answer all your questions and help you decide if our program suits you.
If you are unable to attend on the upcoming dates or are unsure of whether our program is right for you, please get in touch.
Contact us if you are interested in future groups or further suicide bereavement support we may offer.