Finding God's Healing After a Suicide Loss

On our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Finding God’s Healing After a Suicide Loss,” we’re talking with Rita Schulte, a licensed counselor who specializes in the treatment of anxiety and depressive disorders as well as grief, loss, and trauma. She’s also a member of Focus on the Family’s Christian Counselors Network.

Rita experienced God’s healing after losing her husband to suicide. My wife, Jean, who is also on our program, overcame the loss of her brother to suicide.

A death by suicide is sudden, often unexpected, and violent, factors that increase the degree of shock and trauma experienced by survivors, often leaving them with post-traumatic stress. Rita found it hard to get out of bed for months, and full recovery took years.

She says, “The pain ravages your soul. You can’t sleep. You can’t eat. You can barely breathe.”

Rita shares three important truths that helped her heal:

Loss: When we suffer profound loss, we must face it at some point and decide if God is still good.
Why?: In loss, the “Why, God?” or “Why me?” questions are common. Survivors often question everything they believe.
Answers: Having all the answers to adversity is never enough because there is never a good enough answer.

If you’ve faced the loss of a loved one by suicide, we’ll help you through your grief on your local radio station, online, on Apple Podcasts, via Google Podcasts, or take us with you on our free phone app.

We also have caring Christian counselors on staff, and it would be their privilege to offer you a free consultation. Call us, leave your name and number, and they’ll get back with you just as soon as possible. The number during business hours is 1-800-A-FAMILY (232-6459).

Rita Schutte’s book Surviving Suicide Loss: Making Your Way Beyond the Ruins is available for a gift of any amount in support of our ministry. Visit our website for more information.