“My Child on Earth Above in Heaven’s Care”: A Lullaby of Hope

“My Child on Earth Above in Heaven’s Care”: A Lullaby of Hope

Summary

Beth Brown, author of “My Forever Son,” wrote “My Child on Earth Above in Heaven’s Care”: A Lullaby of Hope as a way to express her grief and hope after losing her son Dylan to suicide. The song, which began as a simple melody in Dylan’s room, evolved into a heartfelt expression of her love and longing for her son. Through her blog and music, Brown aims to connect with others who have experienced similar losses, offering solace and understanding.

Introduction

If you’re seeking a “lullaby of hope” for a child in heaven, the song “My Child on Earth Above In Heaven’s Care”: A Lullaby of Hope by Beth Brown is featured on her blog, My Forever Son, where she beautifully captures the essence of love that transcends earthly bounds. This touching melody serves not only as a soothing balm for grieving hearts but also as a heartfelt reminder that our child is always watching over us, wrapped in the warmth of our memories.

The lyrics, infused with tender sentiments, resonate with anyone who has experienced loss, making it a cherished piece for parents longing to connect with their beloved children in a profound and meaningful way. The storytelling is powerful, showcasing the impact of the lullaby and the memories of the author’s son. The integration of images adds a heartfelt dimension to the narrative.

• “My Child on Earth Above in Heaven’s Care“: A Lullaby of Hope captures a mother’s grief and hopeful faith in reuniting with her son in heaven.
• “My Child on Earth Above in Heaven’s Care” captures a mother’s grief and hopeful faith in reuniting with her son in heaven. The lyrics express the pain of loss while acknowledging the hope that God cares for the child until they are together again.

Here are some excerpts from the lyrics:

• “As I tuck you in, I lay me down”.
• “My child, my love, my heart, May God keep and hold you”.
• “And I will always be your mother here, And I will speak your name for all to hear, God will be with you ’til I get there, My child on earth above, in heaven’s care”.

This lullaby, born from deep sorrow, provides not only comfort but also a profound sense of connection for those enduring the heart-wrenching loss of a child. In this blog post, the personal story behind the song is shared, highlighting how music serves as a powerful instrument for healing and nurturing hope amidst such profound grief. The melody of “My Child on Earth Above in Heaven’s Care” is crafted to be soothing, lullaby-like, and comforting, offering solace even as it carries the weight of its heartfelt sorrow.

The melody’s qualities include:

• A lullaby-like, rocking rhythm: A gentle, rocking rhythm and a picked guitar pattern are likely used to soothe a child and comfort a grieving parent.
• Melodic and gentle: The singer’s voice begins “barely above a whisper” with a “downward descent” in the first line “As I tuck you in, I lay me down”. This suggests a soft and gentle melody.
• Emblematic of grief, yet expressing hope: Though the melody is linked to the mother’s grief, it also embodies the hope of a reunion with her child, and the belief that God cares for the child. 

The lullaby blends tenderness with the emotion of a parent grieving the loss of a child while holding onto faith and hope. The lullaby “My Child on Earth Above in Heaven’s Care” by Beth Brown has been recorded and can be heard online.

“My Child on Earth Above in Heaven’s Care”: A Lullaby of Hope

Finding Solace in Music After Loss

You can find recordings, including instrumental versions, here: Finding Solace in Music After Loss which shares a heartfelt and poignant personal journey through the pain of losing a son to suicide. This narrative is beautifully blended with original music compositions and song lyrics that resonate with profound sorrow while gently illuminating the gradual journey toward healing and hope.

The author’s poignant original music compositions, heartfelt song lyrics, and deeply personal reflections create a raw and authentic narrative that invites readers into her experience. These songs express the profound impact of her loss, capturing the ongoing struggle to find solace and healing through the transformative power of music and writing. The site also provides the lyrics alongside the music. 

The storytelling is powerful, showcasing the impact of the lullaby and the memories of the author’s son. The integration of images adds a heartfelt dimension to the narrative.

Related Reads

• “If Only a Mother’s Love Could Have Saved You”: A Poem on Grieving a Child’s Suicide
• Finding Hope Through Grief: Poems of Love and Loss
• “On Baby’s Breath and Angel Wings”: Poem Grieving a Child’s Suicide
• From Sorrow to Joy: How Pain Colors Loss in Grief
• “Sorrow Buried in Love”: A Poem for Grieving Parents

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My Forever Son

Table of Contents

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Song: “My Child on Earth Above in Heaven’s Care: A Lullaby of Hope”

Lyrics: “My Child on Earth Above in Heaven’s Care”

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Lullaby, “My Child on Earth Above in Heaven’s Care,” from My Son’s Darkened Room

I sat in his darkened room lighted only by a candle, cradling my acoustic guitar, rocking gently back and forth. Almost as if I were holding a baby. My baby. Through all the years. Each year of his life. Each year of his love.

Writing My Way Through Grief with a Lullaby of Hope

With tears cascading down my cheeks and my voice barely a whisper, I started to sing, “As I tuck you in, I lay me down.”

Repeating the lines endlessly, I rocked and cradled my acoustic guitar as I once did with my son. My voice gently descended, melodic and soothing, looping back over and over again like a lullaby:

My voice gently descended, melodic and soothing, looping back over and over again like a lullaby:

As I tuck you in, I lay me down. 
As I hold you now, I lift my arms
As I fall to sleep, I pray for you. 
My child, my love, my heart, I'm with you too. 
My child, my love, my heart, May God keep and hold you.

©Beth Brown, "My Child On Earth Above in Heaven's Care": A Lullaby of Hope

“As I Tuck You In”: Still Mothering My Son

As I scribbled down the lyrics, I titled the melodic song “As I Tuck You In” because the music has the feel and rhythm of a lullaby. Only after I had finished writing all the lyrics and music would I call this lullaby, “My Child on Earth Above in Heaven’s Care.”

Hope Comes in Seeing My Son Again

Everything about this lullaby comes from the depths of my sorrow of losing my 20-year-old son Dylan, my only child, to suicide.

The hope in this song comes from believing I will see my son again some day.

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Healing Through Poetry: Coping with the Loss of a Child to Suicide

• Find Hope Here: Featuring Poems About Losing a Child to Suicide
  This collection of poetry explores the sorrow of losing a child to suicide, offering solace and understanding for those in pain, while emphasizing healing and hope.
  
• Healing Words: 3 Free Poems for Coping with the Loss of a Child to Suicide – This resource offers three poems that provide comfort and express difficult emotions for those grieving a child lost to suicide.
  
• A Poem About Being Haunted by Guilt After Losing My Son to Suicide: Still from Sky I’m Falling – This poignant poem explores sorrow and regret, reflecting on the guilt after a tragic loss and the feeling of being adrift in despair. It captures the essence of mourning and the complex journey of healing.
  
• If Earth Were Sky and Sky Above: A Poem of Love and Loss – A touching poem that beautifully explores the profound themes of love and loss, connecting the two realms in an evocative way that stirs deep emotions and contemplative thoughts about the essence of life, relationships, and the memories that linger.
  
• Bury My Heart: A Poem of Unimaginable Loss is a poignant poem about the loss of a child. It blends themes of grief, hope, and healing, offering comfort to those in pain.

Saying Good Night to My Son in a Lullaby: A Heartfelt Farewell

In saying good night to my son, I was really saying goodbye to him, a bittersweet moment that filled my heart with a mix of emotions. And so what began as my strumming my guitar and softly singing “As I tuck you in, I lay me down” gradually evolved into the fully-fledged lullaby, “My Child on Earth Above in Heaven’s Care.”

With each note resonating in the stillness of the night, I poured all my love and hopes into the song, enveloping him in a cocoon of comfort and serenity. I imagined him drifting off into a dream world, where every whisper of the melody would keep him safe and sound. This moment was not just a ritual; it was my way of connecting with him on a deeper level, cherishing the bond we shared, while also serenading the memories we had created together.

A song with a gentle rhythm and a picked pattern meant to soothe a child, the song soothed me as I grieved the unimaginable loss of my beloved son Dylan. This lullaby, rich with comforting melody and rhythm, became my refuge in the storm of my sorrow, wrapping around me during the darkest moments.

Even as I rocked back and forth, desperately trying to find solace, the familiar strains of the lullaby resonated deeply within me, becoming emblematic not only for my grief but also for the love I still hold for my son. The notes seemed to carry his spirit, reminding me of the sweet moments we shared, and each repetition stirred bittersweet memories that intertwined comfort and pain in a dance of longing and remembrance.

A Lullaby of Hope: A Salve for My Aching Heart

A Lullaby of Hope. A Salve for My Aching Heart. “My Child on Earth Above In Heaven’s Care” began in deep grief, then moved towards hope as the lullaby progressed, capturing the profound journey of a parent’s sorrow transformed into gentle reassurance. As the soothing melody unfolded, each note painted vivid pictures of loving memories, laced with the pain of loss that will always carry my love for my son.

As I tuck you in, I lay me down
As I hold you now, I lift my arms
As I fall to sleep, I pray for you
My child, my love, my heart, I’m with you too.

“My Child on Earth Above in Heaven’s Care,”  All music and lyrics by ©2025, Beth Brown

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Dylan: My Forever Son

My “Child on Earth” Story:

I lost my 20-year-old son Dylan, my only child, to suicide on June 25, 2012. He was a sophomore in college, full of promise and potential, and his absence has left a gaping void in my life that is impossible to fill.

So why did I write a lullaby? Perhaps because I was at that point in early grief where all of me collapsed inward, reclusive and withdrawn from the world-at-large, grappling with an unfathomable loss that felt like a nightmare from which I could never awaken. The melodies flowed from my heart, a desperate attempt to connect with memories of his laughter and to soothe the longing that had taken over my existence.

Writing became my refuge, a way to express the profound sorrow and longing that consumed me. Without my son, my world collapsed inward. I felt disconnected and in so many ways, felt a sense of the surreal in all of my life those first few years of early grief. Nothing made sense. I didn’t understand how the world could just keep on moving. My world stopped spinning.

I sat in a darkened room lighted only by a candle, cradling my acoustic guitar, rocking gently back and forth. Almost as if I were holding a baby. My baby. Through all the years. Each year of his life. Each year of his love.

From the Depths of Grief to Hope: “My Child Above in Heaven’s Care”

I could barely speak, let alone sing. My words, my voice, more a whisper than a vocal inflection where singing meant inhaling deeply and opening my throat. I could barely breathe, barely manage to speak at all. I wept and quivered in acute grief. And rocked back and forth, back and forth.

And so from the depths of that grief comes hope in a lullaby–hope that I will see Dylan again, faith that God will keep him safe until I get to wherever my son is too.

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Remembering Dylan, My Forever Son

I remember when Dylan was 8 years old, just beginning piano lessons, and I used to drive him to a local university to take lessons in their music conservatory. Each week, without fail, we would make the same trip to the university for the next 6 years, watching how both his skills and his passion for music blossomed over time.

I loved hearing Dylan practice. The sound of the music filled our home, and it was a joy for me to step into the kitchen to prepare dinner, where the lively notes would waft up from the lower level of our house. A plastic figurine of Schroeder playing piano, donned with a plastic bust of Beethoven from “Charlie Brown,” always sat serenely on top of the upright Schuerman piano. It served as a symbol of the delightful blend of childhood whimsy and serious musical pursuit.

Scott Joplin’s ragtime, with its playful, vibrant melodies, would often spill into the air, alongside Snoopy’s happy dance song and classical pieces that Dylan tackled with tenacity. As time went on, our home echoed with the sounds of jazz, influenced by the genius of Thelonious Monk. Each note resonated with memories of laughter and learning, and those evenings filled with music became a cherished part of my life. Wonderful memories. Wonderful years.

Dylan began composing music too, though mostly unbeknownst to me. Those were his teenage years, a time of exploration and growth when his circle of friends became both a support system and an influence on his creativity. I often felt as if those friends knew more about his inner world than I did, a bittersweet realization for a parent. As he penned his compositions, I could only imagine the thoughts and emotions he poured into those melodies, allowing him to express himself in ways that words sometimes failed to capture. During those transformative years, it was fascinating to witness his journey, even if from a bit of a distance, as his music gradually reflected deeper layers of his personality and experiences.

Still I hear his music. Still I hear his laughter. Still I miss my son.

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Meet Dylan, My Forever Son

Twenty Years of Love: Dylan

Twenty Years of Love: Dylan offers a poignant exploration of grief and loss, blending together cherished memories and reflections on Dylan’s life. The emotional resonance of this piece is deeply felt, beautifully portraying both the love and sorrow that the author carries in their heart. The thoughtful inclusion of links to further readings about Dylan and resources for support is a compassionate touch that adds immense value to those who may be navigating similar journeys.

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Walking Through Shadows: Surviving the Unthinkable Loss of a Child to Suicide

Walking through Shadows: Surviving the Unthinkable Loss of a Child to Suicide offers a deeply moving and heartfelt narrative that illuminates the unimaginable pain of losing a child to suicide. The personal stories shared create a sincere and unfiltered glimpse into the heavy journey of grief and the gradual path toward healing. Through poignant reflections and a poetic exploration on grief, the author navigates the chaotic emotions that accompany such a catastrophic event, revealing both the struggles and the moments of unexpected solace that can emerge even in the darkest times.

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I Want It All Back: Remembering Dylan, My Forever Son

I Want It All Back: Remembering Dylan, My Forever Son lovingly encapsulates the profound heartache and cherished memories tied to the author’s beloved son, Dylan. Through heartfelt imagery and poignant personal stories, it invites readers to share in an emotional journey that resonates deeply, fostering a compassionate understanding of loss and love.

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I Want to Believe: Searching for Hope After Losing My Son to Suicide

I Want to Believe: Searching for Hope After Losing My Son to Suicide is a heartfelt collection of personal reflections and cherished memories that navigates the profound journey of grief and hope following the heartbreaking loss of a son to suicide. The rawness of the emotions is deeply felt, drawing readers into a shared space of empathy. Through vivid descriptions and nostalgic elements, the work evokes a sense of connection and understanding, while the stunning images inspire hope and healing amidst the sorrow.

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Dylan: Forever Loved and Remembered in Our Hearts

Dylan: Forever Loved and Remembered in Our Hearts invites readers into the heart/h-wrenching yet beautifully profound journey of a mother’s grief after the devastating loss of her beloved 20-year-old son, Dylan, who tragically died by suicide. Through a heartfelt collection of original poems and personal reflections, she courageously shares the painful complexities of her sorrow, the small moments of hope that emerged, and her ongoing path toward healing.

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Beth Brown, Author

About the Author

Beth Brown is a writer, educator, and bereaved mother who shares her journey of healing after losing her only son, Dylan, to suicide. Through poetry, essays, and her blog My Forever Son, Beth offers comfort and hope to others navigating grief, honoring the enduring bond between parent and child and celebrating the small joys that illuminate the path toward healing.

Meet the Author: Writing Through the Abyss

by Beth Brown

There are places that cannot be mapped, only entered—terrains of loss where language falters and the heart, stripped of its certainties, must learn to speak again. I am Beth Brown, a mother whose son, Dylan, died by suicide at twenty. My life, once measured by the ordinary rhythms of teaching literature and nurturing a child, was pierced in two: before and after. In the aftermath, I found myself wandering a wilderness where time bent, memory ached, and the world’s colors dimmed to the hush of grief.

On baby’s breath and angel wings,
You bring me love yet still,
— “On Baby’s Breath and Angel Wings”

I did not choose to become a chronicler of sorrow, but grief, relentless and unbidden, pressed its ink into my hands. I wrote because I could not bear the silence. I wrote because the ache demanded witness. In poetry, I found a way to hold both the weight of absence and the persistence of love—a language for the unspeakable, a vessel for memory, a place where my son’s name could still be spoken.

He left too soon,
Lifting life from June,
Casting torrents of rain.
— “He Left Too Soon”

There are nights when the world tilts, and I am returned to the moment of loss, the fracture that remade me. Yet even in the deepest dark, I have learned to listen for the faint music of hope, the pulse of love that endures beyond death.

Beat still my heart,
Beat still my mind,
Weary though thou art,
Carry his love along with thine,
Though heavy on thy shoulders
Crost fields throughout all time.
— “Beat Still My Heart”

My poems are not answers. They are offerings—fragments of a life lived in the shadow of absence, pieced together with longing and the fierce, unyielding devotion of a mother’s heart. They are the record of a journey through the labyrinth of grief, where each turn reveals both the ache of what is lost and the quiet radiance of what remains.

My child sleeps in a cradle of stars,
Gently rocked by the moon
Lullabies in his heart,
Heavens in galaxies swirl round to the sound
Of a mother and child’s love beating on.

Meteor showers, on the darkest of nights,
Bring comfort and joy to my child’s delight,
Aurora Borealis tints sky blue and green,
Where my child remembers his mother in dreams.

–“Falling Stars in a Moonless Sky”

There are questions that haunt the bereaved: Could I have known? Could I have saved you? The mind circles these unanswerable riddles, but the heart, battered and tender, learns to rest in the mystery.

I’d have reached right in to your dark night’s soul—
I would have held on, I would have clutched you,
I would have never let you go
But you told me “Mom I love you”
Oh my child, if I’d only known.
— “Once Upon a Blue-Sky Moon”

In the landscape of loss, I have discovered that love is not diminished by death. It is transformed—becoming both ache and solace, shadow and light, the filament that binds the living to the lost.

Body, mind, soul, rough and ragged,
Weeping tears falling still throughout time,
Carrying weight of mourning and grieving
Falling broken when thou wert mine.
— “Beat Still My Heart”

I write for those who walk this wilderness with me—for the mothers and fathers, siblings and friends, whose lives have been marked by the unthinkable. My hope is that in these poems, you will find not only the echo of your own sorrow, but also the quiet assurance that you are not alone.

Starlight for a mobile twinkling ‘ere so bright,
To remember his mother that darkest of nights,
When slipped he from her grasp and fell through this earth,
Tumbling still planets, sun, folding time in rebirth.
— “Falling Stars in a Moonless Sky”

That we might understand we cannot separate mental illness from physical illness and that try as we might, we cannot see inside another’s pain.

–“Ode to Suicide: That We Might Understand”

And how my heart keeps on beating
Is a mystery to all,
For without you beside me
Through life’s depth I crawl.

I live now life backwards
My heart beating in time,
To the life that we lived
When you, child, were mine.

Try as I might
I can’t seem to live,
For my dreams all belonged,
To your future forward lived.

—“Bury My Heart”

If you have come here searching for words to companion your grief, I welcome you. My poetry is not a map, but a lantern—casting light on the path we walk, together and alone, toward a horizon where love, undiminished, endures.

But boughs break and love falls through the cracks in the earth,
And the centre can’t hold when orbits, slung far, break their girth,
Gravitational interference, passing stars in the night,
Jetting orbs, falling stars in a moonless sky.
— “Falling Stars in a Moonless Sky”

Grief is wild—untamed, unending, and full of shadows. Yet within its depths, I have found moments of light: a memory, a poem, the gentle rustle of leaves, the warmth of a cup of tea. My words are both ache and love, a testament that even in the deepest sorrow, we can find meaning, connection, and—sometimes—hope. Through poetry, I reach for my son and for all who walk this path. If you find yourself here, know that you are not alone, and that love—like poetry—endures.

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If you wish to read more, my collection, Bury My Heart: 19 Poems for Grief and Healing After Losing a Child to Suicide is available on Amazon Kindle. and many other reflections await you at myforeverson.com.

Bury My Heart

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The Story of My Forever Son

Key Resources for Understanding Suicide

The articles below include key resources for understanding suicide and coping with grief. They offer compassionate guidance. Notably, the “Rain Comes to Heal Us All” Poem: Finding Hope After Loss, provides solace. Grief involves stigma, guilt, and various emotions from anger to relief.

Research indicates that suicide is not a conscious choice, necessitating a non-judgmental emotional healing approach. Support groups and educational materials empower survivors, fostering community connections.

The content includes the author’s story of losing her child, emotional support resources, insights on suicide, grief duration discussions, and resources for bereaved parents.

Healing After Suicide: Essential Books for Parents

Healing After Suicide: Essential Books for Parents is a comprehensive resource for parents grieving the loss of a child to suicide. The book offers a curated list of books, including practical guides, narratives, poetry, and novels, providing support and understanding for those navigating grief. The author, Beth Brown, shares her personal journey of loss and healing, emphasizing the importance of support groups and educational materials in the grieving process.

Understanding Suicide: It’s Not a Choice

Understanding Suicide: It’s Not a Choice explores the emotional complexities surrounding suicide, challenging the notion that it is a choice. Dr. John Ackerman highlights the myriad factors influencing suicidal thoughts, emphasizing that individuals often seek relief from overwhelming pain rather than wanting to end their lives. This piece encourages empathy and awareness, making it essential reading for those wanting to support loved ones in distress.

Healing After Losing a Child to Suicide: Support, Resources, and Self-Care for Bereaved Parents

Healing After Losing a Child to Suicide, Support, Resources, and Self-Care for Bereaved Parents offers a comprehensive list of resources and support for individuals grieving the loss of a loved one to suicide. It includes personal insights, professional perspectives, and a curated selection of books and support groups. The author, Beth Brown, shares her own experience of losing her son to suicide and emphasizes the importance of seeking help and understanding.

Surviving Suicide Grief: Does the Pain Ever End?

Surviving Suicide Grief: Does the Pain Ever End? offers a compassionate look at and attempts to response to one of the most profound challenges of longterm grief after suicide loss: Does the pain of losing a child to suicide is profound and never fully goes away, but it does change and become a part of one’s life. Finding support through counseling, support groups, and connecting with others who have experienced similar losses is crucial for healing. Grief is a journey with seasons that come and go, and it is possible to learn to live with the pain while honoring the love for the lost child.

To those of you that still feel you aren’t even sure you want to be here and you can’t imagine ever being happy again. The pain does change, it softens. You will want to live again and be able to enjoy life again. It will never be like before but the crushing, all consuming pain you feel right now will soften. You will be able to live with it. It just becomes part of you.

A parent who lost their child to suicide

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Understanding the Pain of Suicide Loss: “When Someone is Too Bruised to Be Touched”

Understanding the Pain of Suicide Loss: “When Someone is Too Bruised to Be Touched” features Ronald Rolheiser’s writings on suicide which offer a compassionate and spiritual perspective, emphasizing that suicide is often a tragic consequence of mental illness, not a voluntary act. He encourages loved ones to release guilt and second-guessing, understanding that they are not responsible for the person’s death. Rolheiser also highlights the importance of remembering the deceased’s life beyond their suicide, trusting in God’s infinite love and understanding.

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Understanding Suicide: Why the Pain Matters

Understanding Suicide: Why the Pain Matters explores the pain and grief surrounding suicide, emphasizing that it is not a conscious choice but a desperate attempt to escape unbearable suffering. The article highlights current research, personal stories, and compassionate support for those struggling with depression and mental health, aiming to break the stigma surrounding suicide. It provides resources and insights into the complexities of grief and the journey towards healing.

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The Backstory to My Forever Son: A Mother’s Grief

The Backstory to My Forever Son: A Mother’s Grief, recounts the author’s harrowing experience of losing her son to suicide. Her story highlights her grief, guilt, and the healing power of writing. The blog “My Forever Son” came about as a way for the author to work through this devastating grief that follows the loss of a child to suicide. My Forever Son blog serves as a platform for sharing experiences and finding healing and solace in community.

Remembering All the Love

Online Directory for Coping with Grief, Trauma, and Distress

After A Suicide Resource Directory: Coping with Grief, Trauma, and Distress
http://www.personalgriefcoach.net
This online directory links people who are grieving after a suicide death to resources and information.

Alliance of Hope for Suicide Survivors
http://www.allianceofhope.org
This organization for survivors of suicide loss provides information sheets, a blog, and a community forum through which survivors can share with each other.

Friends for Survival
http://www.friendsforsurvival.org
This organization is for suicide loss survivors and professionals who work with them. It produces a monthly newsletter and runs the Suicide Loss Helpline (1-800-646-7322). It also published Pathways to Purpose and Hope, a guide to building a community-based suicide survivor support program.

HEARTBEAT: Grief Support Following Suicide
http://heartbeatsurvivorsaftersuicide.org
This organization has chapters providing support groups for survivors of suicide loss in Colorado and some other states. Its website provides information sheets for survivors and a leader’s guide on how to start a new chapter of HEARTBEAT.

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Resources and Support Groups

Parents of Suicides and Friends & Families of Suicides (POS-FFOS)
http://www.pos-ffos.com
This website provides a public message board called Suicide Grief Support Forum, a listserv for parents, a separate listserv for others, and an online chat room for survivors of suicide loss.

Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS)
https://www.taps.org/suicide
This organization provides resources and programs for people grieving the loss of a loved one who died while serving in the U.S. armed forces or as a result of their service. It has special resources and programs for suicide loss survivors.

United Survivors
https://unitesurvivors.org/
This organization is a place where people who have experienced suicide loss, suicide attempts, and suicidal thoughts and feelings, and their friends and families, can connect to use their lived experience to advocate for policy, systems, and cultural change.

Professional Organizations

American Association of Suicidology
suicidology.org • (202) 237-2280
Promotes public awareness, education and training for professionals, and sponsors an annual Healing After Suicide conference for suicide loss survivors. In addition to the conference, they offer a coping with suicide grief handbook by Jeffrey Jackson. This booklet is also available in Spanish.

The Compassionate Friends
compassionatefriends.org • (877) 969-0010
Offers resources for families after the death of a child. They sponsor support groups, newsletters and online support groups throughout the country, as well as an annual national conference for bereaved families.

The Dougy Center
The National Center for Grieving Children & Families
dougy.org • (503) 775-5683
Publishes extensive resources for helping children and teens who are grieving a death including death by suicide. Resources include the “Children, Teens and Suicide Loss” booklet created in partnership with AFSP. This booklet is also available in Spanish.

Link’s National Resource Center for Suicide Prevention and Aftercare
thelink.org/nrc-for-suicide-prevention-aftercar • 404-256-2919
Dedicated to reaching out to those whose lives have been impacted by suicide and connecting them to available resources.

Tragedy Assistance Programs for Survivors (TAPS)
taps.org/suicide • (800) 959-TAPS (8277)
Provides comfort, care and resources to all those grieving the death of a military loved one through a national peer support network and connection to grief resources, all at no cost to surviving families and loved ones.

LOSS
losscs.org
Offers support groups, remembrance events, companioning, suicide postvention and prevention education, and training to other communities interested in developing or enhancing their suicide postvention and prevention efforts.

Online resources

Alliance of Hope
allianceofhope.org
Provides a 24/7 online forum for suicide loss survivors.

Help Guide
helpguide.org
Provides resources and tips for how to navigate the loss of someone to suicide.

Parents of Suicides (POS) – Friends and Families of Suicides (FFOS)
pos-ffos.com
An internet community to connect parents, friends, and family that have lost someone to suicide.

SAVE: Suicide Awareness Voices of Education
save.org/programs/suicide-loss-support • (952) 946-7998
Hosts resources for suicide loss survivor including a support group database, newsletter, survivor conference and the Named Memorial Program, which offers a special way to honor your loved one.

Siblings Survivors of Suicide Loss
siblingsurvivors.com
Provides resources and a platform to connect with others that have lost a sibling to suicide.

Finding professional care and support

Find a mental health provider

• afsp.org/FindAMentalHealthProfessional
• findtreatment.samhsa.gov
• mentalhealthamerica.net/finding-help
• inclusivetherapists.com
• afsp.org/suicide-bereavement-trained-clinicians

Find a provider for prolonged grief

• prolongedgrief.columbia.edu

Find additional resources for marginalized communities

• afsp.org/mental-health-resources-for-marginalized-communities

Crisis Services

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
988lifeline.org
Call or text 988 (press 1 for Veterans, 2 for Spanish, 3 for LGBTQ+ youth and young adults) or chat 988lifeline.org
A 24-hour, toll-free suicide prevention service available to anyone in suicidal crisis. You will be routed to the closest possible crisis center in your area. With crisis centers across the country, their mission is to provide immediate assistance to anyone seeking mental health services. Call for yourself, or someone you care about. Your call is free and confidential.

Crisis Text Line
crisistextline.org
Text TALK to 741-741 for English
Text AYUDA to 741-741 for Spanish
Provides free, text-based mental health support and crisis intervention by empowering a community of trained volunteers to support people in their moments of need, 24/7.

Support Groups

• Alliance for Hope for suicide loss survivors – https://forum.allianceofhope.org/forums/-/list
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention – https://afsp.org/find-a-support-group
• American Society of Suicidology – https://suicidology.org/resources/suicide-loss-survivors/
• British Columbia Bereavement Helpline, Suicide Grief Support – https://bcbh.ca/grief-support/suicide-grief-support/
• Coalition of Clinician-Survivors – https://www.cliniciansurvivor.org/# 
• Community Support After Suicide (Peachtree Comprehensive Health) – https://www.pchprofessionals.com/community-support-after-suicide  
• Compassionate Friends Loss to Suicide group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/tcflosstosuicide
• Emotions Matter Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) Loss Group – https://emotionsmatterbpd.org/bpd-loss-group (note that not all losses are suicide, though many are. All losses have a connection to BPD.)
• Friends and Families of Suicide (FFOS) – https://www.pos-ffos.com/groups/ffos.htm
• Friends for Survival – https://friendsforsurvival.org/
• Heartbeat: Grief Support Following Suicide – https://www.heartbeatsurvivorsaftersuicide.org/services
• Helping Parents Heal: Special Interest Group -Moving Forward After Suicide – https://www.helpingparentsheal.org/affiliate-groups/special-interest-groups/ (note that Helping Parents Heal “goes a step beyond other groups by allowing the open discussion of spiritual experiences and afterlife evidence—in a non-dogmatic way.  HPH affiliate groups welcome everyone regardless of religious or non-religious background and encourage open dialog.”)
• Long Island Survivors of Suicide – https://lisos.org/ 
• The Lounge – https://www.workingonmygrief.com/about-4 
• Parents of Suicide (POS) – https://www.pos-ffos.com/groups/pos.htm
• Sail to Heal – https://www.sail2heal.org/ 
• Smile through the Storms – https://www.smilethroughthestorms.com/ 
• Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE) – https://save.org/save-support-groups/
• Working on My Grief  – https://www.workingonmygrief.com/ 

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Books for Understanding Suicide And Mental Health

An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness
Kay Redfield Jamison, Ph.D., Alfred A. Knopf, 1995. In this memoir, an international authority on Manic Depression (Bipolar Disorder describes her own struggle since adolescence with the disorder, and how it has shaped her life.

Darkness Visible
William Styron, Random House, 1990. A powerful and moving first-hand account of what depression feels like to the sufferer.

Devastating Losses: How Parents Cope with the Death of a Child to Suicide or Drugs
William Feigelman, Ph.D., John Jordan, Ph.D., John McIntosh, Ph.D., Beverly Feigelman, LCSW, Springer Publishing, 2012. This book provides useful avenues for future research on suicide loss and offers new insights into the grief process that follows the death of a child, both in the short term and years after a loss.  Please note that, given its academic tone, the book is better suited to clinicians and educators than to recently bereaved lay readers.

Night Falls Fast: Understanding Suicide
Kay Redfield Jamison, Ph.D., Alfred A. Knopf, 1999. Kay Redfield Jamison’s in-depth psychological and scientific exploration of suicide traces the network of reasons underlying suicide, including the factors that interact to cause suicide, and outlines the evolving treatments available through modern medicine.

The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression
Andrew Solomon, Scribner, 2001.Winner of the National Book Award, this book shares the author’s story of chronic depression, and places depression in a broader social context.

Why People Die by Suicide
Thomas Joiner, Ph.D., Harvard University Press, 2005.
Drawing on extensive clinical and epidemiological evidence, as well as personal experience, the author, who lost his father to suicide, identifies three factors that mark those most at risk of considering, attempting, or dying by suicide.

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Recommended Reading

Book Recommendation: ‘A Handbook for Coping with Suicide Grief’ by Jeffrey Jackson, providing support for survivors of suicide loss, My Forever Son

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Books

• Beal, Karyl Chastain (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018). Faces of Suicide, Volumes One to Five.
• Brown, Beth (2023) Bury My Heart: 19 Poems for Grief and Healing After Losing a Child to Suicide
• Cacciatore, Joanne (2017). Bearing the Unbearable. Wisdom Publications.
• Clark, Ann (2020). Gone to Suicide. A mom’s truth on heartbreak, transformation and prevention. Iuniverse.
• Collins, Eileen Vorbach (2023). Love in the Archives. a patchwork of true stories about suicide loss. Apprentice House Press.
• Cross, Tracey (2013). Suicide among gifted children and adolescents. Understanding the suicidal mind. Prufrock Press.
• Dougy Center, The (2001). After a Suicide: An Activity Book for Grieving Kids. Dougy Center.
• Estes, Clarissa Pinkola (1988). The Faithful Gardener. HarperCollinsSanFrancisco.
• Fine, Carla (1997). No Time to Say Goodbye. Surviving the suicide of a loved one. Broadway Books.
• Heilmann, Lena M.Q. (2019). Still with Us. Voices of Sibling Suicide Loss Survivors. BDI Publishers.
• Hickman, Martha Whitmore (1994). Healing After Loss: Daily Meditations For Working Through Grief. William Morrow Paperbacks
• Jamison, Kay Redfield (2000). Night Falls Fast: Understanding Suicide. Vintage.
• Johnson, Julie Tallard (1994). Hidden Victims, Hidden Healers. An eight-stage healing process for families and friends of the mentally ill. Pema Publications.
• Joiner, Thomas (2005). Why People Die by Suicide. Harvard University Press
• Joiner, Thomas (2010). Myths About Suicide. Harvard University Press.
• Kushner, Harold S. (2004). When Bad Things Happen to Good People. Anchor Books
• O’Connor, Mary-Francis (2022). The Grieving Brain. HarperOne.
• Rasmussen, Christina (2019). Second Firsts. Hay House Inc.
• Shapiro, Larry (2020). Brain Pain. Giving insight to children who have lost a family member or a loved one to suicide. Safe Haven Books.
• Wickersham, Julie (2009). The Suicide Index: Putting My Father’s Death in Order. Mariner Books.

Memorial Sites

• Faces of Suicide – memorial site for those who died by suicide –  https://www.facesofsuicide.com/
• Suicide Memorial Wall – tribute site for those who died by suicide – https://www.suicidememorialwall.com/

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