Suicide from the perspective of those left alive?

[lotus11]

Has anyone here ever experienced their child or brother or sister commiting suicide? The only reason I haven't killed myself is so as not so hurt my parents or my brother.

I am wondering about what the experience would be like from the perspective of anyone who has experienced that. What was it like for you? Can you understand/ forgive? What was the pain like?

 

[Tautochrome]

I never had a family member commit, but I witnessed my mother attempting. She overdosed some meds, got moved to the hospital and recovered. I only remember feeling awkward, wondering about the reasons and not understanding why she'd do that in a house full of people. Somehow that event gave me closure when she eventually did die (of a different cause), a few years later. I knew she wanted to, I knew she was unhappy, so I didn't see it as a tragedy.