Resources A variety of resources are available to you "As far as I can see, grief will never SUPPORT FOR and your family when you are ready. truly end. It may become softer over SURVIVORS OF The Link’s National Resource Center for time, more gentle, but some days will Suicide Prevention and Aftercare hosts DOMESTIC Survivors of Suicide Support Group Meetings feel sharp, but grief will last as long as across the state: www.thelink.org/nrc.htm love does— forever. It’s simply the way VIOLENCE

Compassionate Friends has chapters across the absence of your loved one manifests MURDER- the state and hosts meeting for parents, in your heart: a deep longing, grandparents, and siblings who have lost a SUICIDE loved one at any age, from any cause: accompanied by the deepest love. Some www.compassionatefriends.org days, the heavy fog may return, and the Kate's Club provides supportive services for next day, it may recede, once again. It’s young children and teens who have lost a parent in Georgia: www.katesclub.org all an ebb and flow, a constant dance of Georgia Crime Victims sorrow and joy, pain and sweet love." Compensation Program -Lexi Behrndt Surviving family members and victims of attempted murder-suicide may qualify for up Staff at the Georgia Commission on to $25,000 in compensation through the Family Violence are available to help you Georgia Crime Victims Compensation find resources in your local community. Program. Learn more and find out if you 404-657-3412 qualify for compensation by visiting 270 Washington Street, Suite 5145 www.crimevictimscomp.ga.gov and clicking Atlanta, Georgia 30334 on the link for victims. gcfv.georgia.gov

Types of Expenses Covered Medical & Dental Expenses: Up to $15,000 SUGGESTIONS, RESOURCES AND Loss of Income or Support: Up to $10,000 This project is supported by Award No. C15-8-339 awarded by the Office on REMINDERS FOR GRIEVING Mental Health Counseling: Up to $3,000 Violence Against Women and administered by the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in Funeral Expenses: Up to $6,000 this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not FAMILIES, FRIENDS AND necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Crime Scene Sanitization: Up to $1,000 Against Women or the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council. COMMUNITIES About Murder-Suicide Grief: What to Expect Healing Considerations A domestic violence murder-suicide occurs Expect a range of emotional, physical, and Allow yourself to express your emotions. when a person kills one or more victims, behavioral changes in the aftermath of a Confide in trusted individuals. Tell the story including a current or former intimate murder-suicide. All of these are normal of your loss. Seek help from a counselor partner, and then commits suicide. Most reactions after losing someone you love. or faith leader. Groups addressing grief and domestic violence murder-suicides occur unexpected loss may provide an opportunity in the home, and sometimes children are Emotional Impact: Shock, numbness, to talk with others who have shared a present or are witness to the death(s) of anger, fear, anxiety, guilt, shame, and pain similar experience. their parent(s). Physical Symptoms: Rapid heart rate, If you are not ready to seek help from a Every year in Georgia, there are an shortness of breath, headaches, body counselor or support group now, familiarize average of 20 domestic violence murder- aches, loss or increase of appetite, and yourself with what resources are available suicides, leaving behind hundreds of extreme fluctuations in crying for when you are ready, or for when you family members and friends. may need support and resources for your Behavioral Changes: Avoiding the subject family members and friends. A murder-suicide can shatter the of death, poor concentration and memory, equilibrium in your life. Losing a loved intrusive thoughts, difficultly sleeping, and Find ways to connect to your lost loved one one, particularly in a sudden and violent hyper-vigilance by keeping a journal and writing to them. manner, can be traumatic. For many, Carry an object linked to the person who losing two loved ones at the same time in died. Create a memory area in your home. such a manner can exacerbate and Stages of Grief complicate the grieving process. Take care of yourself. Get plenty of rest, incorporate exercise you enjoy, and eat What Happens Next well. Develop nighttime routines to help you sleep. Allow yourself some time alone. Following a murder-suicide, families and friends may be confronted with several Do something to help others. This may situations which they may find allow you to step outside of your own pain overwhelming. You may be asked to speak for a while and find comfort in acts of with law enforcement, identify the bodies service in your community. of the deceased, talk with the media, visit the crime scene, arrange for the crime Give yourself time; there is no time limit scene to be cleaned, prepare for the on grieving. Do not be afraid to reach out funeral(s), claim the personal effects of the for help, even if years have passed. deceased, and handle their estate. Adapted from Kübler-Ross