Survivors’ perceptions of support following a parent’s suicide

Wilson, Stewart W.; Heath, Melissa Allen; Wilson, Paola; Cutrer‐Párraga, Elizabeth A.; Coyne, Sarah M.; Jackson, Aaron P.

doi:10.1080/07481187.2019.1701144

Cited by 11 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 24 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…For survivors—family members and friends of the person who completed suicide—the stigma surrounding suicide amplifies and complicates their grieving process, impeding opportunities to talk about the death [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]. This intensifies survivors’ isolation and alienation [ 4 , 8 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In particular, immediate and ongoing needs of CSoPS include supporting and encouraging children to ask questions, talking about the parent’s death, and helping children understand why the parent chose to die by suicide [ 7 , 20 , 32 , 33 ]. However, research indicates that this communication is often very limited and that formal and informal support are difficult for child survivors to access [ 9 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 34 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, research indicates that this communication is often very limited and that formal and informal support are difficult for child survivors to access [ 9 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 34 ]. For CSoPS, a lack of communication and unmet emotional needs complicate their grieving process [ 7 , 19 , 20 , 34 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Additional research is needed to inform mental health practitioners, teachers, and parents/caregivers about providing support to young CSoPS (less than six years old). Caring adults need specific strategies to facilitate communication about the parent’s suicide [ 6 , 7 ]. Noting these needs, the primary purpose of this study was to explore how adults who, as very young children, lost a father to suicide thereafter perceived their father’s suicide, and obtain their recommendations regarding children’s literature (picture books) that may or may not support young CSoPS.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Noting these needs, the primary purpose of this study was to explore how adults who, as very young children, lost a father to suicide thereafter perceived their father’s suicide, and obtain their recommendations regarding children’s literature (picture books) that may or may not support young CSoPS. More specifically, the goal of this study was to lay the foundations for gathering information that will inform interventions, including potential bibliotherapy-based intervention [ 7 ], to support young CSoPS. Noting that young children rarely receive professional mental health services [ 50 ], we also hope this study will provide some guidance for parents and caregivers who need strategies to open communication with young survivors [ 7 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

Very Young Child Survivors’ Perceptions of Their Father’s Suicide: Exploring Bibliotherapy as Postvention Support

Watson¹,

Cutrer‐Párraga

Heath

et al. 2021

IJERPH

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Each year in the United States, 7000 to 30,000 children experience their parent’s suicide. Due to the stigma associated with suicide, feelings of guilt, and intense grief, surviving family members avoid talking about suicide. Over time, children struggle with confusion and intense emotions associated with their parent’s suicide. In this study, seven adults, who reported being younger than six years old at the time of their father’s suicide, participated in individual semi-structured interviews. Participants’ responses highlight the challenges that young children face due to limited memories of their deceased parent. Interviews concluded with an opportunity for participants to review and express their impressions of 10 children’s picture books. Participants offered impressions about how these books may or may not be helpful in supporting young child survivors. Implications for applied practice include considering how children’s literature may open communication and assist children in navigating Worden’s tasks of grief: (a) accepting the reality of their parent’s death; (b) facing the grief and pain; (c) adapting to life changes due to their father’s suicide, in particular adapting to altered family relationships; and (d) building memories of the deceased loved one, when possible, to ensure healthy attachment to the deceased parent. Participants’ insights provide considerations for selecting children’s literature for bibliotherapy. Due to young child survivors’ increased risk for attempting and completing suicide, supporting child survivors of parent suicide not only addresses postvention needs but aligns with suicide prevention.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Very Young Child Survivors’ Perceptions of Their Father’s Suicide: Exploring Bibliotherapy as Postvention Support

Watson¹,

Cutrer‐Párraga

Heath

et al. 2021

IJERPH

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

The L.Y.G.H.T. Program: An Evaluation of a Peer Grief Support Intervention for Youth in Foster Care

Mitchell

Schuurman

Shapiro

et al. 2022

Child Adolesc Soc Work J

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Three Sibling Survivors’ Perspectives of their Father’s Suicide: Implications for Postvention Support

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This qualitative case study describes three adult siblings' experiences and their perceptions of support connected with the time before and after their father's suicide. At the time of the suicide, participants were ages 1, 5, and 8 years old. We considered commonalities and disparities among the three survivors' perceptions. We also considered how their reported experiences compared to extant literature on child survivors of parent suicide. Our findings suggest that, although the siblings experienced the same traumatic event, each had unique perceptions of the parent's suicide. Immediately prior to closing each interview, to deescalate from the intense topic of suicide, participants offered their impressions of potentially therapeutic children's books and how bibliotherapy may or may not support surviving children. Participants' perceptions of selected children's picture books offer insights about opening communication and addressing challenges specific to a parent's suicide. Implications for teachers, parents, and school-based mental health professionals are provided. We conclude that postvention must consider and monitor each child's perceptions and provide individualized interventions that encourage open communication and support adaptive coping to navigate the intense grief associated with a parent's suicide. KeywordsSuicide • Child survivors of parent suicide • Postvention support for child survivors of parent suicide • Bibliotherapy • Qualitative methods Highlights • Following a parent's suicide, children's memories are highly influenced by what adults say and do following the suicide. • Even though siblings share a similar trauma, their narratives may indicate highly individualized memories and responses. • Following a parent's suicide, identify supportive interventions that are individualized to the child's perceptions and needs. • Carefully select children's books to support child survivors. Consider how stories might trigger strong responses.

show abstract

Survivors’ perceptions of support following a parent’s suicide

Cited by 11 publications

References 24 publications

Very Young Child Survivors’ Perceptions of Their Father’s Suicide: Exploring Bibliotherapy as Postvention Support

Very Young Child Survivors’ Perceptions of Their Father’s Suicide: Exploring Bibliotherapy as Postvention Support

The L.Y.G.H.T. Program: An Evaluation of a Peer Grief Support Intervention for Youth in Foster Care

Three Sibling Survivors’ Perspectives of their Father’s Suicide: Implications for Postvention Support

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About