German therapist Chris Paul lost a loved one to suicide at a young age. Today she helps others cope with grief and serious crises. Paul spoke to the “Krone” about a taboo and a provocative question she asked in the room.
“Krone”: Ms. Paul, you are a grief counselor who focuses on people who have lost family members or friends to suicide. You have had this traumatic experience yourself. What was the worst for you?
Chris Paul: I was 23 years old when I lost my partner to suicide. That was the mid-eighties. The social situation was different then, but my experiences make it easy to see what helps the surviving relatives and what does not. The people around me did not react well. I was confronted with many prejudices and fears. This resulted in a lot of silence and rejection. I experienced what many suicide survivors continue to experience today: no one wants to deal with the topic of suicide, so no one wants to deal with you either. I was a living example that what everyone fears can happen. Because of these negative experiences, I later specialized professionally in grief counseling. Educating people so that others affected don’t have to go through what I went through – that is a driving force behind my work.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
