Helping Children Cope with a Suicide Death (Article)

When a suicide occurs, children require the love and support of reliable adults. Providing this assistance can be challenging, particularly if you are grappling with your own grief. During times like this, you may feel uncertain about how to approach a child to talk about a death and suicide.

Alberta Health Services' online article, Helping Children Cope with a Suicide Death, provides guidance for parents, caregivers, and other trusted adults on helping children cope with the aftermath of a suicide death. It emphasizes the importance of telling the truth to children as soon as possible, using simple and age-appropriate language, and creating a safe and comfortable environment for open communication.

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Children can often tell when something bad has happened. It’s hard to know what to tell a child after a suicide. You may think you’re protecting a child if you don’t tell them the truth about the cause of death. But not knowing the truth can stop a child from grieving.

Helping Children Cope with a Suicide Death

Finding Support After a Suicide Loss--Bereavement Support Groups

March 9, 2026

Connecting with others who understand suicide loss can ease some of the isolation and help you feel less alone. Suicide bereavement support groups are a helpful resource to meet and talk with others who understand your grief journey.

Safer Conversations About Suicide on Social Media

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Safer Conversations about Suicide on Social Media is a brief, practical guide from the Mental Health Commission of Canada to help you talk about suicide more safely on social media—whether you are sharing your own experience or honouring someone who has died. Created for anyone who has lost someone to suicide, it offer

Why? A story for kids who have lost a parent to suicide. (Video)

January 3, 2026

If you are supporting a child or teen who has experienced the loss of someone to suicide, it can be challenging to know how best to help them through their grief. The booklet, Children, Teens and Suicide Loss , created by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in partnership with the Dougy Center , offers clear, compassionate guidance tailored specifically for parents and guardians. Within its pages, you’ll find vital information on how young people of different ages understand and process suicide loss, practical advice on using age-appropriate language when talking about what happened, and suggestions for fostering a supportive environment as they begin to heal. You can view an online copy of the booklet here , or, if you prefer, purchase a paper copy for your home or organization. This resource is here to help you navigate a difficult time with greater confidence and understanding. Another helpful resource is the book Why? A Story for Kids Who Have Lost a Parent to Suicide . The American Psychological Association presents the book in the video, Why?, read by Melissa Allen Heath.

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