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, which aims to raise awareness of suicide and how it affects those left behind. Each year the group hold a memorial event to remember those in our communities lost to suicide.

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

Memory Tree Event

Our annual memorial event for those lost to suicide is on Thursday 18 January 2024 and is open to anyone affected by suicide.

The Memory Tree event gives bereaved family and friends a chance to come together to remember lost loved ones and celebrate their lives. It also aims to raise awareness of mental health issues and offer a supportive space for anyone who is struggling.

As part of the event, there will be the opportunity to place a purple heart on to the memorial tree with a message to a loved one that's been lost.

There will be a space inside Renfrewshire House Customer Contact Centre to write messages on a purple heart from 3.30pm, with the event starting outside at 4.15pm.

After the service, all those in attendance are invited to join Provost Cameron, local support groups and the Choose Life team for light refreshments in Paisley Abbey.

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