Explaining death to children is never easy. As with everything else about suicide, death by suicide is especially difficult to talk about with children. We hope these insights from those who've had to go through it will bring some ideas.

It becomes part of the family's story,
at least if you're honest,
so that my boys know that my brother Darrel
committed suicide before they were born.
My six-year-old responded, "That was pretty stupid" - that's his take on it.
We've tried to explain to the children that he was sick
and he made a decision out of that illness.
I have no desire to disguise it from the family story.
- David Brubaker, twin brother died by suicide.

Explaining Suicide To Children

"What should I tell the children?" is a question often asked after the suicide of a loved one. The answer - The truth. Practical help from SAVE - Suicide Awareness Voices of Education

Cry On

Christine was 11 years old when her brother died by suicide. Her reflections 9 years later. By Christine M. Flynn from http://www.webhealing.com/

Links

Child Suicide

The Compassionate Friends

The Dougy Center for Grieving Children and Teens

Lamenting Sons: Fathers and Grief

Research for Children

Surviving Your Child's Suicide

Resources for Parents Whose Child Has Died by Suicide

My daughter was in junior high at a Christian school
and one of the other students told her
that her uncle was in hell.
That was really devastating for her.
I don't think my kids got the support
that they needed during that time
and it was very difficult for me
to give them the support they needed too
because my world was rocked completely.
It was very devastating for my kids.
 Joy Derck, brother died by suicide.