Death Care Providers: the Role of Funeral Directors and Suicide Cleanup Services

Cropped shot of two people holding hands.

It’s one of the most difficult and unimaginable thing for a family to go through. Suicide is often unexpected; it may leave surviving family feeling shocked, numb, or even angry or guilty. Because of its profound impact on our nation and its citizens, suicide is now considered a major public health threat in the US, much like diabetes or heart disease. According to SAVE, and other suicide prevention groups, more teenagers and young adults die from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, influenza, and chronic lung disease, combined. Suicide is the second leading cause of death in many age groups, especially youth ages 10-24.

When faced with a traumatic situation, many seek help from professionals, grief counselors and therapists who are familiar with the grieving process, who are trained to help them recover. Similarily, seeking professional death care services can also be a valuable part of the healing process. Freeing the victim’s family from the more tedious and challenging tasks associated with suicide cleanup or planning a funeral are just two ways professional death care providers assist families who are dealing with complicated situations following the suicide death of a loved one.

The Role of a Funeral Director

Funeral directors are trained to be sympathetic to the needs of survivors, and can provide not only an additional ear or sounding board for the family, but guidance on emotional topics concerning after death care. The structure of the funeral experience, along with a network of directors, clergy and other caregivers, allow the director to provide support and guidance to the survivors. Funeral directors also may also serve as a liaison between the
survivor family and the authorities who investigate a suicide, and one can clarify the needs of the other.

Where suicides are concerned, viewing or other aspects of a funeral may present special challenges for survivors.
Directors are aware of these unique situations, as well as the differences in attitude toward the deceased’s manner of death, and can ensure funeral arrangements meet the special needs of suicide survivors.

Suicide Cleanup

The grieving process is one that differs from person to person, especially in cases of suicide, or when the death was unexpected or sudden. Some mental health professionals prefer the term “living with grief,” as it acknowledges that grief is rarely a finite experience. A year or two after a tragedy, a person may feel that they have “recovered” – only to find themselves recalling another memory that triggers difficult emotions all over again. There is an emphasis on taking one step at a time – and one of the first steps, following speaking to authorities and a funeral director, should be seeing to the safety and security of the rest of the family.

Aftermath Services LLC offers professional suicide cleanup services designed to discretely return the home to a clean, safe state. Furthermore, the compassionate technicians at Aftermath are experienced at working with families who have been through challenging and emotionally difficult situations. Client service managers walk customers through the insurance process, while a knowledgeable supervisor will answer questions and ensure the house is restored to its normal state. This way, a family can focus on their own recovery, and not their living conditions.

If you’re in need of biohazard remediation or suicide cleanup services, our compassionate team of technicians is on hand 24/7 to assist you. Call 877-872-4339 for help, nationwide.