Helping Your Family Cope When A Loved One Commits Suicide
When you and your family experience the loss of a family member, coping with the situation can be challenging. However, when that loss comes as a result of that loved one committing suicide, the situation can become even more difficult. Get to know some of the ways that you and your family can get help in coping with the loss of your loved one to suicide so that you can all grieve and recover together.
Talk To Your Children Honestly About Suicide
As a parent, you want to shelter your children from all of the hings in the world that could cause them pain. In the case of the loss of a loved one to suicide, though, this is an impossible task. While you may be tempted to avoid the discussion of suicide and what it means with your children, this can do them more harm than good in the end.
Be as honest as possible with them about their loved one's suicide. For example, if that loved one had mental health issues or substance abuse problems, explain how those can be related to suicide. These frank and honest discussions can help your children better understand what happened and to potentially take better care of their own mental health in the future as they grow up.
Go To Grief Counseling Or Family Therapy
Another way to help your children and your family as a whole deal with this unfortunate loss is to go to counseling, both individually and as a family. Family therapy can be a great way to give your children and you and your spouse a safe place to express your emotions, talk about your loved one, and get through the grief process as a supportive family unit.
On the other hand, allowing your children to go to grief counseling alone can also be beneficial (just as solo sessions with a counselor can also help you). When your child has one-on-one sessions with a grief counselor, they may feel that they can be more honest and open about how they are feeling following the loss of their loved one. Your child may ask the counselor questions and bring up issues that they are afraid would upset you or that you would not answer honestly.
And, if your child begins to suffer from depression, anxiety, or other mental health issues as a result of the loss they are dealing with, a counselor can help identify those problems and even give a referral to an experienced psychiatrist like Kay M. Shilling MD PC for further treatment and assistance. This can further protect your children and your family as a whole.
Now that you know a few of the ways to help your family cope with the loss of a loved one to suicide, you can better handle the process and get your whole family the care and assistance they need to grieve and recover.
Share