Renfrewshire Council

What Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SOBS) is

SOBS (Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide) is a self-help organisation which provides a safe and confidential environment for bereaved people to share their experiences and feelings and support each other.

The group is run by volunteers and part of the Choose Life campaign [link], which aims to raise awareness of suicide and how it affects those left behind.

You can get support on the SOBS website or by calling 0300 111 5065, Mondays and Tuesdays, from 9am to 5pm.

Our commemorative service

Our annual commemorative service for those lost to suicide is on Thursday 19 January 2023.

The event is open to anyone affected by suicide, and you are invited to meet in the Methodist Halls, Gauze Street from 3pm for refreshments.

You can collect a commemorative purple heart at the hall to write a message to a loved one if you wish.

At 4pm Provost Cameron will lay a wreath and light the Memorial Tree at Renfrewshire House in a short service. You can place your commemorative heart on the tree once it has been illuminated.

You are then welcomed to return to the Methodist Halls after the service for refreshments. There will also be support available at the hall for you.

The Renfrewshire Memorial Tree

The Renfrewshire Memorial Tree is located outside Renfrewshire Council's headquarters in Paisley. The tree marks the site of an annual memorial service where people can come together to find support and remember loved ones.

The tree was first dedicated in 2010 and is believed to be the first of its kind in Scotland. It has become known locally for the handwritten messages of remembrance fixed to its branches.

You can visit the tree all year round.

Where to find support

Bereavement by suicide is very different from other types of bereavement.

It can be a particularly painful and complex emotional experience, where there are often many unanswered and unanswerable questions.

Your feelings are normal, but they may seem overwhelming and distressing. If you are struggling after a bereavement through suicide, please look for help.

You can contact the Renfrewshire Choose Life team at chooselife.sw@renfrewshire.gov.uk.

There are also other organisations that can give you mental health support.

You may also find this information helpful:

• How suicide bereavement is different - Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SOBS)
• Losing someone to suicide - Mind charity
• Suicide Grief: Coping with a Loved One's Suicide - Help Guide organisation