How can we help?
If someone important in your child’s life died of suicide, what would you tell them? The answer isn’t an easy one.
It’s common for caregivers to struggle when talking to their children about the death of an important person especially when that person died of suicide. Some caregivers may find it challenging to determine how much to share while others might wonder if it’s best not to tell their child how the person died.
Although it can be a difficult conversation to have with a child, at some point they will likely find out more details about the death. Therefore, it is important that they receive honest information from a parent or caregiver whom they trust and who knows how to shape the message.
Here are six tips on how to guide the conversation with your child and suggestions on how to support them after they learn about a death by suicide.
Here are some resources that provide additional information and activities to help support a child after a suicide death:
Coalition to Support Grieving Students:
https://grievingstudents.org/module-section/suicide/
Suicide Resources from The Dougy Center: https://www.dougy.org/docs/Suicide_Resources_Flier_2018.pdf
Samaritans:
https://www.samaritans.org/
National Alliance for Grieving Children:
https://childrengrieve.org/
Learn about Care Dimensions’ grief support programs for children.
About the author
Sarah Bujold is a Certified Child Life Specialist with Care Dimensions.
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