. 2022 May 20;31(7):1838–1858. doi: 10.1007/s10826-022-02308-y

Table 2.

Postvention Resources to Support Child Survivors of Parent Suicide (CSoPS)

Brief handouts for parents and caregivers
https://www.mirecc.va.gov/visn19/docs/Talking_to_your_4–8yo_spanish.pdf 1-page handout available in Spanish for children ages 4–8. Cómo hablar con un hijo de 4 a 8 años acerca de un intento de suicidio en la familia.
Dougy Center. (n.d.). Supporting children & teens after a suicide death. https://www.dougy.org/assets/uploads/Supporting-Children-Teens-After-a-Suicide.pdf This suicide-specific 4-page handout is geared to parents and caregivers. This handout provides age-appropriate recommendations for talking about suicide and answering children’s questions in an age-appropriate manner.
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). (2020). When a parent dies by suicide: What kids want to know. CAMH. https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/guides-and-publications/when-a-parent-dies-by-suicide This 7-page handout is provided by Canada’s Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). Information is available in English and French.
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. (2014). Talking to children about suicide. https://www.pfw.edu/departments/cepp/depts/hs/centers/bhi/documents/AFSP%20talking%20to%20children%20about%20suicide.pdf 5-page handout for all adults who support children impacted by suicide. The information includes answering questions about a parent’s suicide, such as specific phrases to communicate with children under 3 and children ages 3–6.
Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6s5U5VXzgI (length: 3 min 5 s) Example of a father talking with preschooler about mother’s suicide attempt.
Short articles
Koplewicz, H. S. (n.d.). Coping with a parent’s suicide: How to help children who are left behind. Child Mind Institute. https://childmind.org/article/coping-with-a-parents-suicide/ Short article is posted on the Child Mind Institute website. This information is also available in Spanish.
Bering, J. (2019, February 14). The telling: When a parent dies by suicide how the children are told casts a permanent shadow on their understanding of life and loss. https://aeon.co/essays/when-a-parent-dies-by-suicide-how-are-the-children-told 3,400-word article about the importance of how children are told about a parent’s suicide. This essay is posted on Aeon’s website, a nonprofit organiztion that communicates helpful information to families and professionals.
Kaslow, N. J., & Aronson, S. G. (2004). Recommendations for family interventions following a suicide. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 24(3), 240–247. file:///C:/Users/18013/Downloads/Recommendations_for_Family_Interventions%20(1).pdf. This article is for counselors who work with families who are grieving the death of a loved one who died by suicide. Information is pertinent to school-based mental health providers. Translation of article is available in 24 additional languages.

Brief handouts for parents and caregivers

https://www.mirecc.va.gov/visn19/docs/Talking_to_your_4–8yo_spanish.pdf

1-page handout available in Spanish for children ages 4–8.

Cómo hablar con un hijo de 4 a 8 años acerca de un intento de suicidio en la familia.

Dougy Center. (n.d.). Supporting children & teens after a suicide death. https://www.dougy.org/assets/uploads/Supporting-Children-Teens-After-a-Suicide.pdf

This suicide-specific 4-page handout is geared to parents and caregivers. This handout provides age-appropriate recommendations for talking about suicide and answering children’s questions in an age-appropriate manner.

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). (2020). When a parent dies by suicide: What kids want to know. CAMH. https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/guides-and-publications/when-a-parent-dies-by-suicide

This 7-page handout is provided by Canada’s Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). Information is available in English and French.

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. (2014). Talking to children about suicide. https://www.pfw.edu/departments/cepp/depts/hs/centers/bhi/documents/AFSP%20talking%20to%20children%20about%20suicide.pdf

5-page handout for all adults who support children impacted by suicide. The information includes answering questions about a parent’s suicide, such as specific phrases to communicate with children under 3 and children ages 3–6.

Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6s5U5VXzgI

(length: 3 min 5 s)

Example of a father talking with preschooler about mother’s suicide attempt.

Short articles

Koplewicz, H. S. (n.d.). Coping with a parent’s suicide: How to help children who are left behind. Child Mind Institute. https://childmind.org/article/coping-with-a-parents-suicide/

Short article is posted on the Child Mind Institute website. This information is also available in Spanish.

Bering, J. (2019, February 14). The telling: When a parent dies by suicide how the children are told casts a permanent shadow on their understanding of life and loss. https://aeon.co/essays/when-a-parent-dies-by-suicide-how-are-the-children-told

3,400-word article about the importance of how children are told about a parent’s suicide. This essay is posted on Aeon’s website, a nonprofit organiztion that communicates helpful information to families and professionals.

Kaslow, N. J., & Aronson, S. G. (2004). Recommendations for family interventions following a suicide. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 24(3), 240–247. file:///C:/Users/18013/Downloads/Recommendations_for_Family_Interventions%20(1).pdf.

This article is for counselors who work with families who are grieving the death of a loved one who died by suicide. Information is pertinent to school-based mental health providers. Translation of article is available in 24 additional languages.

Books
Montgomery, S. S., & Coale, S. M. (2015). Supporting children after a suicide loss: A guide for parents and caregivers. Chesapeake Life Center. 32-page booklet for parents, caregivers, and school personnel who are supporting children following a suicide. Practical suggestions include how to talk with children about suicide. Information is offered to assist schools in providing postvention support for youth.
Requarth, M. (2006). After a parent’s suicide: Helping children heal. Healing Hearts Press. This 280-page book was written by a counselor whose mother died by suicide. The book provides specific ways adults can support CSoPS.
Dougy Center. (2014). After a suicide: A workbook for grieving kids. The Dougy Center, The National Center for Grieving Children & Families. Available for purchase through the Dougy Center [www.dougy.org] and other vendors, this 50-page workbook is designed to support children and teens who are grieving the death of a parent, sibling, or friend. Carefully review this book prior to sharing with children. Some information may not align with the child’s needs.
Karst, P. (2000). The invisible string. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. This 40-page children’s book helps children understand the connection we have with those we love, even when the person is not with us. Although this book is listed for children ages 4-8, this book is enjoyable for all ages.
Emergency assistance
National Suicide Prevention Hotline For immediate concerns about suicide, contact The National Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Services are available 24/7. Services are available in Spanish: Nacional de Prevención del Suicidio 1-888-628-9454. Options For Deaf + Hard of Hearing are available by dialing 711 then 1-800-273-8255.
Lifeline Chat Service https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat/ The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is facilitated by a national network of local crisis centers. Support is free and confidential to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 h a day, 7 days a week. This service is provided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Books

Montgomery, S. S., & Coale, S. M. (2015). Supporting children after a suicide loss: A guide for parents and caregivers. Chesapeake Life Center.

32-page booklet for parents, caregivers, and school personnel who are supporting children following a suicide. Practical suggestions include how to talk with children about suicide. Information is offered to assist schools in providing postvention support for youth.

Requarth, M. (2006). After a parent’s suicide: Helping children heal. Healing Hearts Press.

This 280-page book was written by a counselor whose mother died by suicide. The book provides specific ways adults can support CSoPS.

Dougy Center. (2014). After a suicide: A workbook for grieving kids. The Dougy Center, The National Center for Grieving Children & Families.

Available for purchase through the Dougy Center [www.dougy.org] and other vendors, this 50-page workbook is designed to support children and teens who are grieving the death of a parent, sibling, or friend. Carefully review this book prior to sharing with children. Some information may not align with the child’s needs.

Karst, P. (2000). The invisible string. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.

This 40-page children’s book helps children understand the connection we have with those we love, even when the person is not with us. Although this book is listed for children ages 4-8, this book is enjoyable for all ages.

Emergency assistance

National Suicide Prevention Hotline

For immediate concerns about suicide, contact The National Suicide Prevention Hotline

1-800-273-TALK (8255). Services are available 24/7.

Services are available in Spanish: Nacional de Prevención del Suicidio 1-888-628-9454.

Options For Deaf + Hard of Hearing are available by dialing 711 then 1-800-273-8255.

Lifeline Chat Service

https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat/

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is facilitated by a national network of local crisis centers. Support is free and confidential to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 h a day, 7 days a week. This service is provided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).