A South Asian Mother’s Journey After Suicide Loss | Janani (SAMHIN): Shikha Sadhar

WARNING: This video contains content on suicide and self-harm.

Choosing hope: This is the story of a mother who rebuilt her life after her husband died by suicide — facing stigma, grief, and the hard choice to fight for her children’s future. Hear how she honors his memory, finds strength, and helps others through Janani, SAMHIN’s suicide loss support group.

Looking at the family photo brings back a wave of emotions. After discovering that her husband had taken his own life, she and her two children faced unimaginable loss and the crushing stigma that surrounds suicide especially in the South Asian culture. In a culture where widowhood is often treated as a curse and suicide is seen as a shameful secret, she refused to be defined by others’ expectations.

She made a choice: give up—or fight for her children’s future. She chose to fight. She rebuilt their lives while keeping her husband’s memory alive, and she carefully navigated the difficult conversations with her children about their father’s death. Today she shares a message of hope: there is life after loss, and death does not end a relationship.

As a facilitator of Janani, SAMHIN’s suicide loss survivor support group, she offers a safe, compassionate space for people to share their stories, process grief, and find community. Her story is a testament to resilience, truth, and the power of connection.

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