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Posts by Kia Hartford

Kia Hartford is a writer and mental health blogger committed to raising awareness and reducing the stigma surrounding mental health issues. Over on her blog Beyond The Blues, she shares her lived experiences of borderline personality disorder, depression, anxiety, PTSD and substance abuse. You can also find her on Pinterest.

When You Lose a Loved One to Suicide: Healing from the Guilt and Trauma

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“You will survive, and you will find purpose in the chaos. Moving on doesn’t mean letting go.” ~Mary VanHaute

I was ten years old when I discovered the truth. He didn’t fall. He wasn’t pushed. It wasn’t an accident.

He jumped.

Suicide isn’t a concept easily explained to a six-year-old, much less her younger siblings, so I grew up believing that my father’s drowning was an unfortunate freak accident. It was “just one of those things,” the cruel way of the world, and there was nothing anyone could have done about it.

This explanation more than satisfied me and, other …