Product Description

Looks in detail at the stigma surrounding suicide and offers practical help for survivors, relatives and friends of people who have taken their own life.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #206647 in Books
• Published on: 2001-06-14
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

Review
'The first edition of this important book opened our eyes to the special needs of people bereaved by suicide. Since that time the author and others have increased our understanding of these needs and helped to develop services to meet them. In this second edition she has drawn on this knowledge and experience to augment and enhance the foundation which she laid... a volume which will be of value to members of caring professions, counsellors and other bereavement service providers.' - Colin Murray Parkes, in his Foreword.

From the Back Cover
This new edition of A Special Scar looks in detail at the stigma surrounding suicide and offers practical help for survivors, relatives and friends of people who have taken their own life. Incorporating the latest research findings, and new material on counselling and groupwork with survivors of suicide, it will continue to be an invaluable resource for survivors as well as for all those in contact with them, including policy and coroner's officers, bereavement services, self-help organisations, mental health professionals, social workers, GPs, counsellors and psychotherapists.

About the Author
Alison Wertheimer has been working as a freelance writer and researcher since 1987, after working in the voluntary sector for twenty years. She has a private counselling practice, is a supervisor with a bereavement counselling service and runs workshops on the impact of suicide bereavement.

Customer Reviews

A helpful book, a revelation
I lost my mother to suicide 18 years ago. At that point I was aged 7. As a child I was shielded from the shock I suppose, but as children do, I picked up alot of information from the adults around me. After 17 years of struggling with the weight of the bereavement on my shoulders I decided to seek help. I was given "A special scar" by a counsellor and while reading it had revelation after revelation. To realise that I was not the only one suffering from intense grief and pain, was amazing. By talking to others and sharing my experiences and feelings, things somehow began to make sense again, even after all those years. I do not pretend that the journey through grief has been easy, I do feel you get out what you put in and it is by no means over yet. My lost loved one will always be in my memory but I feel I've found the courage to move on with my life. Alison Wertheimer's book is very helpful on a pratical, as well as an emotional level. The stories of other survivor's help to ease the isolation often suffered by this type of bereavement. It is particularly helpful when the shock of a loved one's suicide begin's to wear off and the feelings are being faced. The most inportant message given in the book is you are not alone!

Excellent source of comfort and understanding.
I bought this book following the suicide of my ex partner. For me the book has been a lifesaving source of comfort and information. The book has really helped reduce my feelings of isolation and provided such relief by detailing the experiences and feelings of others following a suicide. It has helped me realise that I am not alone and that my feelings are not odd or unusual and are shared with many others. It has also helped me understand the enormity of the event and the ongoing impact this has in life - especially important over time when life around begins to return to its usual pattern. I am still reading and getting comfort from this book many months after my loss.Highly recommended.

An absolute must for those affected by suicide
A long and difficult search for a book that discussed the 'fall-out' after suicide, came to an end when I found this book. It has practical advice regarding dealing with police, coronors, inquests and a detailed section on the emotions you are likely to encounter. Bereavement by suicide is such a traumatic and 'taboo' situation that it is a godsend someone has written a book like this. It covers all those questions you want to ask, but may be too afraid to. The best thing about this book was reading how other people felt - that I was not alone. Also it is a great relief to know that all the intense and overwhelming emotions I went through were 'normal' and that I was not going completely mad. Your heart will break while reading this, but it certainly helped me to face my loss head on and ride the waves instead of fighting them.