*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

Picture Books for Helping Children Navigate Grief
Elergy for an Elephant by Ryan Abramowitz
Death Is Stupid by Anastasia Higginbotham
Luna's Red Hat by Emmi Smid
Red Chocolate Elephants by Diana C. Sands
Forever Connected by Jessica Correnti

For help:
Lifeline: 13 11 14
Suicide Callback Service: 1300 659 467
Mensline Australia: 1300 789 987
Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800
Standby - Support After Suicide 1300 727 247

In Memory of Logan - Happy Families

Find us on Facebook at Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families

Email us your questions and comments at podcasts@happyfamilies.com.au

*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:
<ul>
<li>Protecting children from pain</li>
<li>Limited evidence for how to have these conversations</li>
<li>Keep your reactions level</li>
<li><a href="https://www.childhoodgrief.org.au/">National Centre for Childhood Grief</a></li>
<li>Keep the conversation age/developmentally appropriate</li>
<li>Young Children and Middle Childhood:
<ul>
<li>Keep it simple</li>
<li>Operate on the principle of 'the fire hose'</li>
<li>Answer questions honestly (to the degree with which they are curious) - the more general you can be, the more protected your child will be</li>
<li>Offer empathy</li>
<li>Talking helps to dispel misinformation and stigma and creates a safe space to ask questions</li>
<li>Encourage questions about anything, and at any time</li>
<li>Ensure they understand what "dead" means. Give concrete answers, not idioms or euphemisms</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>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</li>
</ul>
Picture Books for Helping Children Navigate Grief
<ul>
<li><a href="https://narrativesofnature.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://narrativesofnature.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1700015448780000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1Q5CyaWE-Z-2z1LbhK737g">Elergy for an Elephant</a> by Ryan Abramowitz</li>
<li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948340399/?&amp;_encoding=UTF8&amp;tag=choosingthera-20&amp;linkCode=ur2&amp;linkId=10e3b8a203661d032249d1ee2e8d1e96&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948340399/?%26_encoding%3DUTF8%26tag%3Dchoosingthera-20%26linkCode%3Dur2%26linkId%3D10e3b8a203661d032249d1ee2e8d1e96%26camp%3D1789%26creative%3D9325&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1700015448780000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0LFyE5qG3VR0eKDjsdKxIH">Death Is Stupid</a> by Anastasia Higginbotham</li>
<li><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25017240-luna-s-red-hat" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25017240-luna-s-red-hat&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1700015448780000&amp;usg=AOvVaw07CsalTl7swhkQEh3MA5vu">Luna's Red Hat</a> by Emmi Smid</li>
<li><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21074762-red-chocolate-elephants" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21074762-red-chocolate-elephants&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1700015448780000&amp;usg=AOvVaw18AeWULfXZ7TpGZ6aQKiF-">Red Chocolate Elephants</a> by Diana C. Sands</li>
<li><a href="https://www.booktopia.com.au/forever-connected-jessica-correnti/book/9798985588217.html" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.booktopia.com.au/forever-connected-jessica-correnti/book/9798985588217.html&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1700015448780000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2JQKT9E2_FXE6maD2quJXu">Forever Connected</a> by Jessica Correnti</li>
</ul>
For help:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.lifeline.org.au/">Lifeline</a>: 13 11 14</li>
<li><a href="https://www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au/">Suicide Callback Service</a>: 1300 659 467</li>
<li><a href="https://mensline.org.au/">Mensline Australia</a>: 1300 789 987</li>
<li><a href="https://kidshelpline.com.au/">Kids Helpline</a>: 1800 55 1800</li>
<li><a href="https://standbysupport.com.au/">Standby - Support After Suicide</a> 1300 727 247</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://www.happyfamilies.com.au/articles/in-memory-of-logan">In Memory of Logan - Happy Families</a>
Find us on Facebook at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/happyfamilies.au/">Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families</a>
Email us your questions and comments at <a href="mailto:podcasts@happyfamilies.com.au">podcasts@happyfamilies.com.au</a>

The Happy families podcast with Dr. Justin Coulson is designed for the time poor parent who just wants answers now. Every day Justin and his wife Kylie provide practical tips and a common sense approach to parenting that Mums and Dads all over the world are connecting with. Justin and Kylie have 6 daughters and they regularly share their experiences of managing a busy household filled with lots of challenges and plenty of happiness. For real and practicable advice from people who understand and appreciate the challenges of a time poor parent, listen to Justin and Kylie and help make your family happier.

The Happy families podcast with Dr. Justin Coulson is designed for the time poor parent who just wants answers now.

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