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Suicide
Suicide is more difficult, I think. How can I be helpful to a family who has just lost their wife and mother who took her own life.
Response
My teachers always taught that comparisons are dangerous because their intent is to diminish. Suicide carries its own dificulties that are unique (mostly) as a result of the powerful religious and social taboo against it. As a result, there is tremendous shame and guilt associated with suicide. Probably the greatest gift we can give to the individuals who have chosen this path and their families are to help alleviate the shame and guilt by recognizing the free will we each have to end our lives. There are so many extenuating factors that I am not aware of with this particular family (such as if an illness was involved) that it is difficult to say more.