#889 Talking to Your Kids About a Suicide

*Content warning: mature themes - listener discretion advised*

How do you talk to your kids when they are touched by the profound loss of a loved one through a suicide? These hard conversations must be had openly with your children - with kindness, compassion, and empathy. Your job is NOT to tell them everything, but to answer their questions honestly, in an age-appropriate way.

Topics in this episode:

Protecting children from pain
Limited evidence for how to have these conversations
Keep your reactions level
National Centre for Childhood Grief
Keep the conversation age/developmentally appropriate
Young Children and Middle Childhood:
- Keep it simple
- Operate on the principle of 'the fire hose'
- Answer questions honestly (to the degree with which they are curious) - the more general you can be, the more protected your child will be
- Offer empathy
- Talking helps to dispel misinformation and stigma and creates a safe space to ask questions
- Encourage questions about anything, and at any time
- Ensure they understand what "dead" means. Give concrete answers, not idioms or euphemisms
Expect and accept a range of emotions (and behaviours!) from your child, which will change daily. Let them feel safe to let it all out