Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide support

Coping With Suicide Loss: Tim Owens Shares His Story of Bereavement and Support with SoBS Witney

Tim Owens, a volunteer with Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SoBS) in Witney, shares his powerful personal story of losing his beloved sister Lucy, who tragically died by suicide at just 29 years old. Now, he helps others navigate the grief and unanswered questions that follow a suicide loss.

Losing Lucy: A Brother’s Journey Through Suicide Bereavement

“Lucy had been struggling for most of 2013,” Tim shares. “We knew something wasn’t right, but we didn’t realise the depth of her pain.”

After leaving her job, Lucy began travelling around the UK, staying in hotels, withdrawing from daily life. Despite her family’s efforts to reach her, she kept insisting: “I’m all good.” Tim gently persuaded her to come and stay with him and his wife in their new home.

“She mostly curled up in a blanket on the sofa. It felt like having a timid rabbit in the house,” he remembers. “I was so careful—one wrong move and I thought she’d run. But I was just glad she was there.”

One day, Tim convinced Lucy to take a walk along the river. She spoke about her plans and sounded hopeful. “I tried not to ask too much. I just wanted her to feel safe.”

Then came October 1st—a day that changed everything.

“I came home from work and opened the door. That’s when the bomb exploded in my life.”

The Aftermath: Grieving a Sister Lost to Suicide

The hours and days that followed were overwhelming. “I went into overdrive. I needed to know why.”

Tim and his family discovered Lucy’s notebooks—pages filled with inner pain, self-hate, and overwhelming sadness. “She’d been battling alone for months. None of us knew. Her friends didn’t know. She had a brave face, but inside, she was fighting demons.”

Today, more than a decade later, Tim continues to live with grief. “I still wake up thinking I’ll call her. I miss her terribly. She never got to meet my children. I often wonder—what if she had stayed just a little longer?”

Finding Hope: Support After Suicide Loss with SoBS UK

Now, Tim channels his grief into helping others through SoBS (Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide), the only UK charity offering peer-to-peer support for adults affected by suicide loss.

“SoBS provides a safe, confidential space for those bereaved by suicide to share, support, and heal. We understand that each person’s experience is unique, but no one needs to go through it alone.”

The charity offers local groups, a national helpline, and resources for people coping with suicide loss in the short and long term.

“We’re a self-help organisation and provide a safe, confidential environment”

💛 If you’ve been bereaved by suicide, you are not alone.

Contact the SoBS support line: 0300 111 5065
Open daily from 9am to 7pm
Learn more at: www.uksobs.com

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