Advice For Parents

Tips for parents.

Supporting a suicidal youth.

Asking the individual about suicide and taking the time to listen to them be honest about your concerns and discuss them clearly

	Avoid offering too much advice.
	Do not trivialise the youths concerns, they see things differently.
	Persuading that person to accept help from others ( i.e., family, friends, professionals, anyone who can help).
	Referring and connecting the individual with help and treatment.
	Following up in some caring way.
	Do not promise to keep secret any threat of self-harm.
	Negotiate an agreed action plan to solve their inner pain.
	Ask the young person what they would do to help another in the same situation.

If you have lost a youth through Suicide.

Maintain contact with others. Suicide can be a very isolating experience because friends and neighbours often do not know how to offer support. Do seek out supportive people with whom you can talk to.
The majority of families who have been bereaved by suicide find it helpful to meet with others who had a similar loss experience. Members of the family will express their grief in different ways.

Anger, tears, silences and worry about their sanity are common and normal reactions, understand that it is normal to feel guilty and to question why it happened. Realise that you may never fully understand or find the reason as to why the person took their own life.
Healing is going to take time and the pain will eventually become more bearable as the months pass. Be kind to yourself. Have regular chats with your family doctor about how you are feeling.

Join your local Suicide Bereavement Support Programme Tel 087 7998427 between 2-4pm on Friday's for further information.

Grief and loss

Children and young people may feel vulnerable and insecure when families experience a loss. They may believe that they are responsible for what has happened. It is possible for them to understand what is happening.
Parents need to discuss the situation and any proposed changes with them.

	Young people usually don't show pain or suffering all at once. They may seem to be over it and suddenly their anguish reappears.
	Let them know it's not their fault.
	Let them express their feelings in their own way.
	Let them know you are there for them.

Its ok to show your feelings.

Showing your children how you cope is good for them.