The Leftover Pieces: Suicide Loss Conversations
Suicide loss changes everything. The Leftover Pieces® Podcast explores life after suicide through honest conversations with survivors, experts, and grieving parents learning to live forward after unimaginable loss. Parents, partners, siblings, and friends share what it means to keep living when the world has been forever changed.
Hosted by Melissa Bottorff-Arey, whose 21-year-old son Alex died by suicide in 2016, the show blends intimate conversations with survivors, healers, and mental health professionals with short solo reflections you can actually use. Together we explore child loss, trauma and nervous-system care, anniversaries and seasons, stigma, faith and meaning, legacy, and the everyday practices that help make life livable again.
At its heart, this podcast is about learning to live forward after loss. We never move on from the people we love, but we can learn to carry the grief differently. This road can feel incredibly lonely—but you are not alone here.
For supporters, educators, and professionals, these conversations also offer insight into the realities of suicide grief and what genuine, non-fixing support can look like.
If you’d like to share your story or expertise, you can request to be a guest through Melissa’s website.
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Content Note
This podcast speaks candidly about grief and suicide loss and may feel activating for some listeners. We avoid graphic descriptions and discussion of suicide methods. Please care for yourself as needed. Melissa is not a doctor or licensed therapist, and nothing shared here should be considered medical or mental-health advice.
The Leftover Pieces: Suicide Loss Conversations
What has Helped Me the Most after Suicide Loss?; Part 2 Tools and Practices
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Today I go "down the rabbit hole" for Part 2 in a 3 part series called "what has helped me the most" (after the loss of my son by suicide). I know that I have talked about these topics before - and I will again - because we need to hear them often, to be reminded - to be empowered - to SURVIVE!
The first Part 1 (Ep 2 Season 3) addressed Community and Support. Part 3 will be around Time and Self Care. These topics are the cornerstones for survival, hope, and (eventually) healing in this life after suicide loss. Please do respond if you would like to add to these or have any input that I might include.
Today in Part 2, I talk about 'Tools and Practices' and what that has meant (& still means) to me as a parent who will forever grieve the loss of her son. Most of what I discuss today centers around the idea that early on we find the tools that work to help us to build a 'toolkit' so that we may 'rebuild' ourselves and our life. Later, this same kit will assist when we need to do back in for 'repairs' or to the add-on, or 're-model' any part of your life. I also discuss practices (aka habits) that I have put into place.
I have included a few links, one of which takes you to the signing up space to get started in our very own "Picking up the Pieces" Community. It's in the beginning phase so dive on in now and help to make it exactly what you need!
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My website "The Leftover Pieces; Rebuilding You" is LIVE and that means my different SUPPORT SPACE Options are available and much more will be coming in 2022
Go DIRECTLY to my SUPPORT page here where yo9u will find ALL of the ways to connect and find support
My first two books (tools I am creating for you!) in the "Facing Life After Suicide" series are available on Amazon
The website again is at www.theleftoverpieces.com
If you, or someone you know, is struggling with suicidal thoughts PLEASE reach out:
The National Suicide Lifeline is there for you
IN a crisis you can also TEXT--->
TEXT the word "HOME" to 741741 in the USA
in Canada TEXT 686868
in the UK TEXT 85258
And Grievers, I am always here. You can find me at The Leftover Pieces
Click to Send a Text or Voicemail to Melissa
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The Leftover Pieces is Support for Life After Suicide Loss. Click links below
🎙 Leave me a message: Share a question, your story, or your person’s name for a future episode → theleftoverpieces.com/voicemail
Support After Suicide Loss
If you are grieving after suicide loss, you do not have to carry this alone.
Visit The Leftover Pieces for podcast episodes, grief support, resources, and ways to connect with Melissa’s work: https://theleftoverpieces.com
or Join Melissa’s email list: https://theleftoverpieces.com/join
If you someone you love is in immediate crisis or may be in danger, please call or text 988 in the United States. You can also text HOME to 741741 to reach the Crisis Text Line