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Managing grief of a participant

MentallyChillNew Contributor21 Oct 2026, 11:57 pm AEDT

Managing grief of a participant

Hello, first time using this service or any other for that matter.

ive reached out to roses in the ocean for follow up linkages to services and they will call me back some time this week apparently.

i work in mental health and it feels very strange to be on the other end of things/felt hard admitting I needed help.

i got a message on Monday from a relative of a participant I had been working with for 9 months to say that my participant had ended their life.

the message was very positive, inviting me to join the memorial, however grief is very new to me. This all feels very sudden and I don’t know how to feel. One minute I don’t feel anything at all, the next I’m overwhelmed with sadness/confusion and my chest constantly aches.

anyway, I’m just here to get advice/talk- I feel quite isolated in this experience.

4 replies

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In response to: Managing grief of a participant

RadderSenior Contributor22 Oct 2026, 7:56 am AEDT

Re: Managing grief of a participant

Hi @MentallyChill it is very wise and professional that you are reaching out for support. It’s also very normal to be impacted in the circumstances you describe, even for practitioners.

A Roses peer should call you within 24 hours of your request, and you can repeat your request as you need.

I suggest also calling https://standbysupport.com.au. This is Australia’s free suicide support service for anyone impacted by suicide, including practitioners.

Its probably also a good idea to get some supervision.

In the interim, some grounding techniques may give some temporary relief https://www.lifeline.org.au/get-help/support-toolkit/techniques-and-guides/finding-relief-through-grounding-techniques

You are not alone in this experience and its good you are reaching out to peers who have experienced similar shocks.

In response to: Managing grief of a participant

MentallyChillNew Contributor22 Oct 2026, 9:35 am AEDT

Re: Managing grief of a participant

Thank you- I was able to call stand by support before the line closed last night and they have passed on my details and will be in contact in the next few days. ❤️‍🩹

In response to: Managing grief of a participant

RadderSenior Contributor22 Oct 2026, 10:47 am AEDT

Re: Managing grief of a participant

That's great @MentallyChill. Their website also has a great set of helpful resources.

Unfortunately, many practitioners experience this at some stage of their career. Ultimately, despite everyone's best efforts, some participants make that tragic decision.

While waiting for Roses and Standby (or at any time), feel free to post any thoughts/concerns/questions here.

In response to: Managing grief of a participant

AppleblossomSenior Contributor22 Oct 2026, 9:10 pm AEDT

Re: Managing grief of a participant

@MentallyChill Your grief journey and your feelings are personal to you and legitimate. It is a difficult death to cope with. Dont be too hard on yourself. Feelings may ebb and flow. Join in the memorial if you want. Some research may help. Be guided by what speaks to you. Plus lots of extra self care.

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