End-of-Life University Ep. 567 Grief in the Aftermath of Suicide with Laura Jaye Cramer
Sep 21, 2026
59:04
Learn how a beautiful magazine about grief was inspired by the devastating loss of two loved ones to suicide.
About the guest:
My guest Laura Jaye Cramer is the founder of Waiting Room Publishing, an independent media company putting smart, human-centered print magazines into healthcare, senior living, and end-of-life waiting rooms across the United States. Today we share together our experiences with grief after suicide loss and how we are each navigating that journey. We also discuss Candlelight Magazine, which Laura created out of her own grief. The magazine features poetry, articles, art, and photo essays about grief for end-of-life spaces like funeral homes, hospice care, and palliative care. Learn more at her websites:
In this episode:
- How Laura’s own grief experience inspired her to create Candlelight Magazine
- How typical reading material in waiting rooms doesn’t match the needs of grieving people
- How grief can be like a “waiting room” where we wonder when things will change
- The overwhelming grief experienced by Laura of two family suicide deaths within 3 months
- Why many grief groups don’t work well for suicide survivors
- Feelings of abandonment and betrayal after a suicide loss
- Talking about suicide may help people find the tools they need to cope
- The need for a specific community of “grief friends” who understand suicide loss
- Navigating “before” and “after” versions of yourself following traumatic loss
- How to subscribe to Candlelight Magazine
Links for this episode:
Resources
- Read Candlelight Magazine online
- Subscribe to Candlelight Magazine
- Series – Suicide: Surviving the Aftermath
Related episodes
- Surviving the Suicide of a Loved One with Sarah Neustadter PhD
- Grief After a Suicide Death: My Personal Story with Karen Wyatt MD
- It’s OK to Talk About Suicide: Finding Safety and Hope Amidst Pain with Kevin Hines
Other links
- 7 Lessons for Living from the Dying by Karen Wyatt MD
- Latest post on Substack: Letting Go of Guilt
- What Really Matters Podcast: How Do I Forgive Myself?
- Leave me a message by email: [email protected], Twitter, Facebook or Instagram
- Support your local bookstore by buying my books on Bookshop and Indiebound: 7 Lessons for Living from the Dying and The Journey from Ego to Soul
- Join the team at Patreon.com/eolu
- Buy me a coffee
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