A serene mountain path leading to a tranquil lake, symbolizing a journey through healing and understanding, My Forever Son, When Love Isn’t Enough: ‘Ode to Suicide: That We Might Understand’
When Love Isn’t Enough: ‘Ode to Suicide: That We Might Understand’
Key Takeaways
When Love Isn’t Enough: ‘Ode to Suicide: That We Might Understand’ delves into the complexities of suicide with a powerful poem written as a treatise, “Ode to Suicide: That We Might Understand,” challenging the idea of choice.
A powerful poem written as a compassionate treatise on understanding suicide, “Ode to Suicide: That We Might Understand” reflects on the inevitability of death and love’s limitations in preventing suicide.
Author Beth Brown shares her personal grief journey after losing her son to suicide, finding solace in writing and nature photography.
The article includes related reads that address suicide statistics, stigma, and resources for support.
When Love Isn’t Enough: ‘Ode to Suicide: That We Might Understand’ advocates for understanding suicide beyond simplistic views, urging compassion and awareness for mental health and breaking the stigma of suicide.
Summary
When Love Isn’t Enough: ‘Ode to Suicide: That We Might Understand’ unravels the profound complexities surrounding suicide, featuring an impactful poem and a heartfelt treatise by the author, “Ode to Suicide: That We Might Understand.” This poignant article and poetic reflection encourage readers to reconsider the belief that suicide is merely a choice. In her treatise, “Ode to Suicide: That We Might Understand,” the author poignantly illustrates the unavoidable nature of death, regardless of its cause, and the ways in which love can sometimes feel insufficient in its grasp. Beth Brown, the compassionate voice behind both this article and the treatise, shares her deeply personal journey of navigating grief after the heartbreaking loss of her son to suicide, finding hope and comfort through writing and nature photography.
A serene view of a tranquil lake surrounded by majestic mountains and lush greenery, capturing the beauty of nature, My Forever Son, When Love Isn’t Enough: ‘Ode to Suicide: That We Might Understand’
Introduction
When Love Isn’t Enough: ‘Ode to Suicide: That We Might Understand’ is a poignant exploration of the complexities surrounding the topic of suicide, intricately challenging the prevalent notion that suicide is simply a choice made by individuals in despair. Beth Brown, the author of the powerful poem and heartfelt treatise, “Ode to Suicide: That We Might Understand,” delves deep into the emotional and psychological dimensions of this tragic phenomenon, emphasizing the inevitability of death for all, regardless of the circumstances or causes that may lead one to that final resolution. Her poetic reflections and deep discussions including current research on understanding suicide converge to illustrate why and When Love is Not Enough.
In her heartfelt poem and compassionate reflection, Brown articulates the profound limitations of love (When Love is Not Enough) in preventing such tragedies, bringing to light the harrowing truth that even the deepest connections cannot always shield individuals from their pain. This realization is particularly striking, as it invites readers to reconsider their understanding of mental health struggles and the myriad factors that contribute to thoughts of suicide.
Through the lens of her own personal journey, Brown shares her experiences of grief following the devastating loss of her son to suicide. Her writing becomes a therapeutic outlet, allowing her to process her sorrow and seek meaning in the midst of overwhelming loss.
Additionally, she finds solace in nature photography, capturing the beauty of the world around her as a counterpoint to the darkness of her heartache. These elements of her narrative not only resonate with those who have endured similar losses but also serve as a call to approach the topic of suicide with compassion and understanding.
When Love Isn’t Enough: ‘Ode to Suicide: That We Might Understand’ is more than just a written piece; it is an invitation to reflect upon the broader implications of life, love, and loss, and to foster a more empathetic dialogue around an issue that affects countless individuals and families. Brown’s work compels us to confront uncomfortable truths while simultaneously honoring the richness of life that endures even in the wake of tragedy.
A serene path leading through lush greenery toward a distant lake and mountains, symbolizing the journey of grief and healing, My Forever Son, When Love Isn’t Enough: ‘Ode to Suicide: That We Might Understand’
A somber moment captured in black and white, depicting a young man in deep contemplation, reflecting the emotional weight of grief and loss, My Forever Son, When Love Isn’t Enough: ‘Ode to Suicide: That We Might Understand’
My Forever Son
My Forever Son explores the profound grief, hope, and healing that follow the tragedy of losing a child to suicide.
My Forever Son dovetails the author’s journey of descending into deep grief, searching for hope, and finding healing along the way.
Table of Contents
A scenic view of colorful autumn foliage against a cloudy sky, capturing the tranquil beauty of nature, My Forever Son, When Love Isn’t Enough: ‘Ode to Suicide: That We Might Understand’
Breaking the Stigma of Suicide: Suicide Is Not a Choice
I hope that someday we will have a better understanding – one that perhaps permits us to give grace to the one who took their life and see it as something that happened to them, rather than something they did to themselves and others.
Anonymous
[Suggested Reading]: Suicide is Not a Choice: Breaking the Stigma challenges the notion that suicide is a simple choice, emphasizing that suicide often stems from deep emotional pain and mental illness. Through personal narratives and research, the author highlights the importance of empathy and support for those struggling with suicidal thoughts, underscoring the need to address underlying pain rather than labeling suicide as a choice. The article also explores the complexities of suicide, debunking myths and shedding light on the contributing factors, including mental health conditions and life stressors.
Poem: “Ode to Suicide: That We Might Understand”
Ode to Suicide: That We Might Understand
That we might understand: All illness can be fatal.
That we might understand: "Is suicide a choice?" Swirls that still yet pervasive, Stigma of suicide--
That somehow, losing a loved one, --To suicide-- Can be controlled:
That losing a loved one could have, Might have been, Prevented, Implying, of course, That we missed something,
A fatal flaw in the way we loved; That we somehow failed At what is elemental to all love: We failed to control death.
Oh that Death Could be Controlled!
That we might live past pain, Past illness, past affliction, past disease, Past accidents, past the constructs of the frailty of all life.
That we might understand all illnesses can be fatal.
That we might understand we cannot separate mental illness from physical illness.
That we might acknowledge no matter how great our love, We cannot see inside another's pain.
That while advances in medicine, advocacy, and breaking the stigma serve all of us well, No one of us can escape succumbing To what we still don't understand: Death in itself.
That we might understand: We do not choose death, Though death lives inside us all.
Life chooses fight, flight, freeze, fawn; but life does not choose death.
Death creeps in on silent stealth wings, casting shadows of hope in our darkest despair, the song of the siren in sweet serenade meant to harness the instinct, the will spirited and strong, to live and to love to keep carrying on.
Discover More Poems: Find Hope Here: Poetic Reflections on Grief and Healing is a deeply moving collection of poems by Beth Brown that captures the profound sorrow of losing a child to suicide. Each poem offers a glimpse into the journey through the labyrinth of grief, expressing the emptiness and heartbreak left in a child's absence while searching for hope and meaning amidst such unbearable loss.
A serene landscape featuring a sparkling river surrounded by lush green forests and majestic mountains, symbolizing tranquility and reflection amidst love and loss, My Forever Son, When Love Isn’t Enough: ‘Ode to Suicide: That We Might Understand’Pink flowers trail over a cream and brown stoneware flower pot resting on bricks, symbolizing hope and resilience, My Forever Son, A Poetic Quest for Healing After Losing My Son
Author’s Note: A Poetic Quest for Healing After Losing My Son
Twelve years ago, I lost my 20-year-old son, Dylan, to suicide, a heartbreaking event that shattered my world and plunged me into a dark period of grief.
During those long months, I found myself grappling with overwhelming emotions and thoughts, questioning everything around me and struggling to make sense of what will never make sense. I entered into a deep grief filled with solitude and despair, a darkness so bleak I questioned ever being able to see light again.
In the beginning, I had no words. No voice. No ability to express the grief I was feeling.
My words were lost in torrents of tears, in stark contrast to the vibrant discussions I used to lead in my college composition and literature classes.
Perhaps it’s important to preface that I was teaching college composition and literature when I lost my son to suicide, a tragedy that shattered all of me. The irony of discussing the complexities of human emotion with my students while grappling with my own profound sorrow was not lost on me.
Each day, I faced the challenge of maintaining my professional facade, all the while battling an internal tempest that seemed insurmountable, wondering how to bridge the chasm between my role as an educator and the personal devastation I was enduring.
Wild purple geraniums surrounded by green leaves in mid-summer, symbolizing hope and a moment of tranquility, My Forever Son, A Poetic Quest for Healing After Losing My Son
My Life Before Losing My Son
Books, lectures, teaching—I once felt empowered by my voice, a resonant tool for sharing ideas and knowledge. It was a time when I believed in the strength of my words and the influence they carried, inspiring others to think deeply and engage in meaningful conversations.
I reveled in the connections I forged through sharing my thoughts, feeling a sense of purpose in my contributions to the world. But when Dylan died by suicide, I felt consumed by my grief. My heart collapsed inward in sharp pain, I retreated from the outside world, and my words eluded me.
Teaching was impossible. Losing Dylan shattered my life, leaving me, on the outside at least, grappling with an overwhelming silence that echoed louder than any lecture or written page.
On the inside, I was screaming sounds I did not recognize as my own.
The Depth of My Loss Brought My Life to a Standstill
The vibrant energy that once fueled my passion for writing vanquished, and I found myself questioning everything without being able to lend voice to the confusion and overwhelming feelings I was moving through in my grief.
The depth of my loss silenced the joy I once derived from sharing my thoughts and connecting with others.
All of my life came to a standstill as I entered a place of deep grief. It is only in retrospect and in these twelve years past my son’s suicide that I see how all-consuming my grief was.
Diminishing the confidence that fuels expression, my grief stifled my voice completely. It’s been a difficult battle to reclaim my sense of self amidst such sorrow.
A Poetic Quest for Self-Forgiveness and Healing
Journaling was awkward. I couldn’t put all the pain I was feeling into words that did justice to the enormity of my heartbreak. But I kept writing. Slowly, in keeping a record of my grief, I realized I was creating a poetic journey about losing a child to suicide.
“Find Hope Here: Poetic Reflections on Grief and Healing”
Find Hope Here: Poetic Reflections on Grief and Healing is a heartfelt collection of poems and reflections by Beth Brown, the compassionate voice behind the My Forever Son blog. This poignant work navigates the deep, overwhelming sorrow that accompanies the tragic loss of a child to suicide. In her writing, Brown bravely shares her personal journey through grief, revealing how the act of writing poetry and connecting with the beauty of nature became vital sources of comfort and healing for her in the midst of such profound pain.
Through the author’s heartfelt verses, she reaches out with warmth and understanding to those who are journeying through their own sorrows. With her enchanting photography of the trees, shrubs, and flowers that grace her gardens throughout the seasons, Brown lovingly shares a beacon of hope, brightly illuminating the shadows cast by grief.
On Finding Hope: Photographing My Gardens Brings Healing
In nature, I find calm in the wake of profound sorrow and healing in the cycling of the seasons. Predictable. Beautiful in the spring, promising renewal after a long winter’s rest. Brilliant hues in the summer months. Autumn bringing trees and shrubs bejeweled in vivid reds, oranges, and reds. And then the stillness and monochromatic sketch of what can be a too long winter’s sleep.
Winter Wonderland: Captivating Photos in My Gardens
A Long Winter’s Rest for Trees, Shrubs, and Flowers
This dormant season in winter echoes the hopelessness of my grief: everything feels, looks, seems bleak and forsaken.
This dormant season in winter echoes the hopelessness of my grief: everything feels, looks, seems bleak and forsaken. An empty landscape. Gray skies for months. A blanket of snow in white, though only the stark limbs of trees and shrubs. At times, though, red berries appear on some shrubs, supplying food for birds and wildlife. All this to say I can’t see life against this wintry scene.
But in photographing nature through the seasons, I began to see (again), the brilliance of a long winter’s rest for trees, shrubs, and flowers. To study nature and botany is to realize that what appears lifeless is actually the process of life within all of nature renewing itself. Trusting in what I cannot see brings hope and healing.
Spring Brings Hope: Photographs of My Gardens
Spring Brings Beauty and Hope
Even against the cold remnants of a long winter–scattered clumps of snow, a robin redbreast plumped out to keep itself warm against a late March frost, brown dried leaves with nary a sign of color anywhere, spring breaks through. At first just small bits of color. A hint of purple as crocus push through thawing ground, then the vivid yellows of daffodils leaning towards the sun and the suddenness of blue bells. Rhododendron yawns and stretches its lavender limbs to awaken azalea, still sleepy with snow though greening beneath it all.
What seems forever gone in the gray doldrums of winter arrives with an abundance of joy come spring.
Writing My Way Through Grief to Find Hope and Healing
Snippets of language emerged as poetic reflections
Three years into my grief, I began writing journal entries. Short. A few feelings. About my day and where I was in my grief journey. Then slowly, snippets of language emerged as poetic reflections. Words shaped the deep feelings and emotional longing in my heart, and as I continued writing, I began to find small glimpses of hope in unexpected ways.
Photographing my gardens garnered a way to coalesce all the many feelings and words I’d been unable to express. And the more I photographed through the seasons, the more glimmers of hope I found along the way.
Each poem moves the reader through the profound emotions of grief and healing after losing a child.
Many of the poems tell narratives I remember from my son’s childhood. This is significant–reconstructing the narrative of our lives during his growing-up years brings release for all the love and beautiful memories before the trauma of losing him. Writing these poems and narratives, these poetic reflections on love and loss, have helped me learn to carry love and ache together.
Still I write. Still I heal. Still I miss my son.
From Shattered Hearts to Quiet Hope: Poems and Reflections for Parents of Suicide Loss
Find Hope Here: Poetic Reflections on Grief and Healing
If you are reading this, you know the unique and overwhelming grief of losing a child to suicide. This collection is for you—a place to find words and images that honor your pain, offer comfort, and gently invite hope.
Curated by Beth Brown, who lost her only child, her 20-year-old son Dylan, to suicide, these poems and reflections move through the rawness of early trauma, the depths of acute grief, and the slow journey toward healing, even thirteen years later. Each post pairs heartfelt writing with stunning garden photography, inspired by Beth’s own search for solace in nature’s resilience.
Hope can be quiet—listen for it in moments of rest.
You are invited to explore at your own pace. Choose what resonates—whether it’s a poem that mirrors your sorrow, a reflection that offers comfort, or an image that whispers hope. For more resources, stories, and support, visit the My Forever Son blog and discover a community that understands.
Contemplation Prompt: Pause with a garden image. What does it say to you about survival, growth, or hope?
About the Author, Beth Brown: Writing My Way Through Grief
The love you shared endures beyond loss.
This collection is lovingly curated by Beth Brown, a mother who lost her only child, her 20-year-old son Dylan, to suicide. Over thirteen years, Beth’s journey through the depths of grief has been shaped by poetry, reflection, and the healing presence of her gardens. Through My Forever Son, she shares how nature’s resilience and beauty offer moments of solace and hope, even in the face of unimaginable loss.
Explore These Poems and Reflections at Your Own Pace
You are invited to explore these poems and reflections at your own pace. Each post pairs heartfelt words with stunning garden photography, offering comfort, understanding, and gentle encouragement for wherever you are in your grief. Select what speaks to you—let these pages be a companion on your path toward healing. For more resources, stories, and support, visit the My Forever Son blog and discover a community that understands.
Journaling Prompt: What memories of your child bring both tears and warmth? Write a few lines, letting your heart speak freely.
You are not alone. Healing is a journey, and hope can bloom—even here.
Message of Hope: Even in the darkest seasons, a single flower can remind us that beauty and life persist. Let these poems be gentle companions as you move through your grief.
FIND HOPE HERE: POEMS AND POETIC REFLECTIONS ON GRIEF AND HEALING
“On Baby’s Breath and Angel Wings”: A Poem on the Devastating Loss of a Child to Suicide Summary The poem “On Baby’s Breath and Angel Wings” in the post, “On Baby’s Breath and Angel Wings”: A Poem on Grieving a Child’s Suicide explores the profound grief of losing a child to suicide. The author, Beth…
Understanding ‘Once Upon a Blue-Sky Moon’ Poem’s Heartfelt Message Summary Understanding ‘Once Upon a Blue-Sky Moon’ Poem’s Heartfelt Message explores the profound grief and regret of losing a child to suicide through the poem, “Once Upon a Blue-Sky Moon,” by author Beth Brown. Through vivid imagery and heartfelt repetition, the poem captures the enduring love…
“He Left Too Soon, Lifting Life from June” Poem: A Mother’s Deep Sorrow Summary “He Left Too Soon” is a poem about the profound sorrow and anguish of losing a child to suicide. The author, Beth Brown, shares her personal experience of grief and healing after losing her son, Dylan, to suicide. Through her writing,…
Sorrow Buried in Love: A Poem for Grieving Parents Summary “Sorrow Buried in Love: A Poem for Grieving Parents” explores the profound grief and complex emotions experienced by parents who have lost a child to suicide. The poem emphasizes the importance of honoring the child’s memory while navigating the challenging path of healing, highlighting that…
Haunted by Guilt in Grief Poem: “Still from Sky I’m Falling” Summary Beth Brown, a devoted mother who suffered the heartbreaking loss of her son to suicide, recounts her profound journey of healing through the power of poetry in her poignant blog, My Forever Son: Healing After Losing a Child to Suicide. In her deeply…
The Emotional Depth of ‘Beat Still My Heart’: A Powerful Elegy Summary The Emotional Depth of ‘Beat Still My Heart’: A Powerful Elegy features the grief poem, “Beat Still My Heart,”a powerful elegy that uses shipwreck imagery to convey the grief of losing a child to suicide. The grief poem, written by Beth Brown, explores…
Grieving a Child’s Suicide: “If Only a Mother’s Love Could Have Saved You” Poem Summary Grieving a Child’s Suicide: “If Only a Mother’s Love Could Have Saved You” Poem highlights the powerful poem “If Only a Mother’s Love Could Have Saved You” which explores the profound grief of losing a child to suicide. It delves…
Find Hope Here: Poetic Reflections on Grief and Healing Summary Find Hope Here: Poetic Reflections on Grief and Healing is a heartfelt collection of poems on love and loss that tenderly explores the profound pain of losing a child to suicide. The author, Beth Brown, shares her deeply personal journey through grief, illustrating how she…
“Bury My Heart”: A Grief Poem of Unimaginable Loss Summary “Bury My Heart”: A Grief Poem of Unimaginable Loss is a poignant poem by Beth Brown, exploring the profound grief and longing experienced after losing a child to suicide. The poem delves into the author’s personal journey of navigating life without her son, Dylan, and…
‘That All of Love Could Sweep Time Back’: Poem on Guilt in Grief Summary “That All of Love Could Sweep Time Back” is a poignant poem by Beth Brown, exploring the profound guilt and sorrow parents experience after losing a child to suicide. The poem delves into the haunting questions of “What If?” and “Why…
Derecho: A Storm Out of Nowhere–Grief Poem, “He Left Too Soon” Summary Beth Brown’s poignant poem, “Derecho: A Storm Out of Nowhere -Grief Poem “He Left Too Soon,” skillfully intertwines the sorrow stemming from the loss of her son to suicide with the tumult wrought by a powerful Derecho storm that occurred on the day…
When Love Isn’t Enough: ‘Ode to Suicide: That We Might Understand’ Summary When Love Isn’t Enough: ‘Ode to Suicide: That We Might Understand’ unravels the profound complexities surrounding suicide, featuring an impactful poem and a heartfelt treatise by the author, “Ode to Suicide: That We Might Understand.” This poignant article and poetic reflection encourage readers…
Tillers of the Earth and Tenders of the Soil: A Poem of Love and Loss Summary “Tillers of the Earth and Tenders of the Soil”: A Poem of Love and Loss is a heartfelt reflection on the themes of love and loss, born from the deep and painful grief of the author following the heartbreaking…
“If Earth Were Sky (And Sky Above)” Poem: Reflections on Love and Loss Summary “If Earth Were Sky (And Sky Above)” Poem: Reflections on Love and Loss depicts a deeply personal and emotional journey of losing a child to suicide. The author effectively conveys the profound impact of grief through heartfelt words and metaphors. The…
“Falling Stars in a Moonless Sky”: A Poem on Losing a Child to Suicide Summary The poem “Falling Stars in a Moonless Sky”: A Poem on Losing a Child to Suicide is a heartfelt piece on losing a child to suicide that explores the profound grief and longing experienced after such a tragic loss. The…
The Magnolia Tree: A Symbol of Grief and Resilience Summary The Magnolia Tree: A Symbol of Grief and Resilience explores the author’s journey of grief through the metaphor of a Magnolia tree’s cyclical seasons. The author uses photography to illustrate the parallels between nature’s cycles and the seasons of grief, finding hope and healing in…
Holding True to My Son’s Narrative: “Shaped by Love” Poem Analysis Summary Holding True to My Son’s Narrative: “Shaped by Love” Poem Analysis by Beth Brown explores the profound connection between love and grief following the loss of her son to suicide. The poem emphasizes the author’s refusal to change her narrative of grief, asserting…
Finding Beauty in Loss: Reflections on Grief and Healing Key Takeaways Summary Finding Beauty in Loss: Reflections on Grief and Healing shares author Beth Brown’s journey of grief and healing after losing her son, Dylan, to suicide. Through poetry and nature photography, she finds solace and a way to express her overwhelming emotions after suicide loss.…
“Rain Comes to Heal Us All” Poem: Finding Hope After Losing a Child to Suicide Summary “Rain Comes to Heal Us All” Poem: Finding Hope After Loss conveys a powerful message of hope for parents grieving a child’s suicide. Acknowledging the profound sorrow of loss and the traumatic grief of losing a child to suicide,…
“Travel On My Brave Soldier”: A Poem of Hope Summary “Travel On My Brave Soldier”: A Poem of Hope addresses grieving parents who have suffered the unimaginable loss of a child to suicide. It underscores the profound importance of honoring their child’s memory through meaningful rituals, sharing heartfelt stories, and engaging in advocacy events that…
The anthology of poems in this book provides a profound and moving examination of grief, intricately intertwining original verses that delve into themes of loss, guilt, hope, self-forgiveness, and the path to healing. Expertly curated, the arrangement of poems invites deep reflection, serving as a treasured companion for those in search of solace and connection during difficult times.
Meet the Author, Beth Brown
Author Beth Brown, sharing her journey of healing and love after loss, My Forever Son: Healing After Losing a Child to Suicide
Introduction
Beth Brown is an author and former literature teacher whose writing is shaped by the loss of her son Dylan to suicide at age 20. Through poetry and blogging, she found a way to navigate profound grief, rediscover her voice, and connect with others facing similar loss. Her collection, “Bury My Heart: 19 Poems for Grief and Healing After Losing a Child to Suicide,” offers comfort and hope to those mourning a loved one. [Meet the Author | Word]
Journey of Healing
Thirteen years ago, Beth Brown’s life was forever changed by the loss of her only child, Dylan. The pain of his absence brought profound changes to her identity and daily life. Grief became all-consuming, but through writing, she began to find a path forward.
“On baby’s breath and angel wings, You bring me love yet still,” — from “On Baby’s Breath and Angel Wings” [Meet the Author | Word]
Blogging and poetry became Beth Brown’s sanctuary—a place where pain and love could coexist. Her poems and reflections capture the ache of loss and the enduring power of love.
“Oh lay me down to sleep tonight In dreams where life goes on, Where twirling, time and laughter gaze, adoringly in love.” — from “On Baby’s Breath and Angel Wings”
“I carry both ache and love, for they both are my love for my son.”e Author | Word]
“Each moment—a warm cup of tea, the rustle of leaves—reminds me of the love that still lives within me.”
Rediscovering Voice
Through poetry, Beth Brown rediscovered her voice, even as it was irrevocably transformed by loss. Her words trace the gradual journey of learning to live with both grief and love.
“Down, down, down you faster fall Than I can spread my wings, To catch you, hold you, love you back To perch where you can sing.” — from “On Baby’s Breath and Angel Wings” [Meet the Author | Word]
“Still from sky I’m falling, Grief in guilt, Hawks hunting baby birds While the mother searches for food.” — from “Still From Sky I’m Falling” [Meet the Author | Word]
“I will seek until I find you, In the quiet corners of memory, Where laughter lingers and love remains.” — from “I Will Seek Until I Find You”
Poetry Collection
Beth Brown’s poetry collection, “Bury My Heart: 19 Poems for Grief and Healing After Losing a Child to Suicide,” explores the profound journey of healing after the heartbreaking loss of a child to suicide. The collection includes poems such as:
Navigating grief after losing a child to suicide is an overwhelming journey. Beth Brown offers compassionate guidance and essential resources for parents coping with loss:
Beth Brown’s journey through grief is a testament to the enduring power of love and the possibility of healing. Through poetry, storytelling, and compassionate outreach, she offers hope and connection to others walking the path of loss. Her words remind us that even in the deepest sorrow, moments of comfort and renewal can be found. [Meet the Author | Word]
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.
“I carry both ache and love, for they both are my love for my son.” “And so I continue to write, to heal, and to love—my heart unbroken, forever carrying my son with me in this wilderness of life.”
Getting to Know the Heart Behind the Words
A Heart Unbroken: The Journey of Healing Thirteen years ago, a heart-wrenching tragedy shattered my life when I lost my only son, Dylan, to suicide. He had just turned 20. “Grief exhausted all of me. Who I was went away, or at least lived suspended from the depths of what seemed bottomless grief.”
Weeping Even in My Sleep
Early grief made life impossible. Tears everywhere. “I lived, breathed, slept, and wept grief. Only grief. Despair. Darkness. My grief enveloped me.”
My Sanctuary and Saving Grace
Blogging became my sanctuary—a place where pain and love could coexist. “My pain and love will always coexist for my son.”
Discovering My Voice Once More
Through writing, I rediscovered my voice and learned to navigate life with both grief and love. “Though the pain of losing Dylan remained, I learned to celebrate his life through memories and stories told.”
Once Upon a Blue-Sky Moon
Grief is a journey marked by memories, longing, and the enduring bond between parent and child. “Once Upon a Blue-Sky Moon” was written in the wake of losing my beloved son, Dylan, to suicide. Through celestial imagery and heartfelt reflection, this poem captures the ache of loss, the hope for reunion, and the healing power of love that persists beyond absence. I share these words to honor Dylan’s spirit and to offer comfort to others walking the path of grief.
Once upon a blue-sky moon, We sailed our ships in your bedroom, With stars for light, we fled the dark But the lightning flashed, And the blue sky arced.
You tucked away your childhood dreams On wings that soared beyond infinity, Your love in me and me in you, But out of reach, beyond what I could do.
… (continue poem as above, using stanza breaks for clarity) …
Reflections on Love, Loss, and Remembrance
“My pain will always be part of my love for my son. And my love for my son will always be part of my pain.” I honor Dylan through rituals—apple picking, music, and remembering the small joys we shared.
Journey of Healing
Thirteen years ago, Beth Brown’s life was forever changed by the loss of her only child, Dylan. The pain of his absence brought profound changes to her identity and daily life. Grief became all-consuming, but through writing, she began to find a path forward.
“On baby’s breath and angel wings, You bring me love yet still,” — from “On Baby’s Breath and Angel Wings” [Document | Word]
Finding Sanctuary in Writing
Blogging and poetry became Beth Brown’s sanctuary—a place where pain and love could coexist. Her poems and reflections capture the ache of loss and the enduring power of love.
“Oh lay me down to sleep tonight In dreams where life goes on, Where twirling, time and laughter gaze, adoringly in love.” — from “On Baby’s Breath and Angel Wings” [Document | Word]
“I will seek until I find you, In the quiet corners of memory, Where laughter lingers and love remains.” — from “I Will Seek Until I Find You” [DOWNLOAD-3…Heart22(7) | Word]
Rediscovering Voice
Through poetry, Beth Brown rediscovered her voice, even as it was irrevocably transformed by loss. Her words trace the gradual journey of learning to live with both grief and love.
“Down, down, down you faster fall Than I can spread my wings, To catch you, hold you, love you back To perch where you can sing.” — from “On Baby’s Breath and Angel Wings” [Document | Word]
“Still from sky I’m falling, Grief in guilt, Hawks hunting baby birds While the mother searches for food.” — from “Still From Sky I’m Falling” [Bury My He…Blog Stuff | Word]
Poetry Collection
’s poetry collection, “Bury My Heart: 19 Poems for Grief and Healing After Losing a Child to Suicide,” explores the profound journey of healing after the heartbreaking loss of a child to suicide. The collection includes poems such as:
Honoring your child’s memory through rituals or creative projects
Seeking professional counseling or therapy
Self-Care Tips
Allow yourself to grieve in your own time
Reach out for support when needed
Practice gentle self-care (rest, nutrition, movement)
Remember: You are not alone
Conclusion
Beth Brown’s journey through grief is a testament to the enduring power of love and the possibility of healing. Through poetry, storytelling, and compassionate outreach, she offers hope and connection to others walking the path of loss. Her words remind us that even in the deepest sorrow, moments of comfort and renewal can be found.
Getting to Know the Heart Behind the Words
A Heart Unbroken: The Journey of Healing
Thirteen years ago, a heart-wrenching tragedy shattered the life of a mother when she lost her only son, Dylan, to suicide. I am that mother, and my beloved son had just turned 20 years old.
I loved my son fiercely, but love was not enough to save Dylan from his struggles with depression.
On an academic scholarship at a prestigious university, Dylan had continued his studies in art and music, choosing to major in Digital Media. I loved my son fiercely, but love was not enough to save Dylan from his struggles with depression.
Weeping Even in My Sleep
Grief exhausted all of me. Who I was went away, or at least lived suspended from the depths of what seemed bottomless grief. In early grief (for me the first three years after losing Dylan), my life felt impossible.
Tears everywhere. Weeping even in my sleep. Unable to function in my professional life, I found everything in my life had changed. I couldn’t meet the challenges of everyday life. I was consumed with grief and mourning.
I knew nothing about suicide, only what I’d read about or what I’d seen in movies. I began to search for books and resources. I knew I needed support; I just didn’t know where to turn.
My Sanctuary and Saving Grace
I began blogging in 2015. My sanctuary and saving grace, writing/blogging was a place where pain and love could coexist. Little did I know that as grief settled in for the long haul, my pain and love will always coexist for my son.
I carry both ache and love, for they both are my love for my son. The pages of my blog were extended journal entries, filled with original poems, songs, and narratives from that deepest place of ache and love, my grief and my healing.
Before losing my son, I had thrived as a writing and literature teacher, inspiring students with the power of words and the strength of their voice. Now my own story was unfolding, filled with sorrow and strength, ache and love.
Discovering My Voice Once More
Through my writing, I discovered my voice once more; although irrevocably transformed by the profound loss I experienced, my words captured the gradual journey of learning to navigate life with both grief and love.
As the seasons changed, so did I, embracing healing in its many forms, writing poems, songs, reflections, stories, and articles.
Though the pain of losing Dylan remained, I learned to celebrate his life through memories and stories told. I found joy in small things—a warm cup of tea, the rustle of leaves, a good book—each moment a reminder of the love that still lived within me.
I found joy in small things—a warm cup of tea, the rustle of leaves, a good book—each moment a reminder of the love that still lived within me.
And so I continue to write, to heal, and to love—my heart unbroken, forever carrying my son with me in this wilderness of life.
Bury My Heart: 19 Poems for Grief and Healing After Losing a Child to Suicide
What Happened? The Backstory to My Forever Son: A Mother’s Grief
I started this blog, My Forever Son: Healing After Losing a Child to Suicide in 2015, three years into my journey of grief. You can read more about what happened here: 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, especially through works like the “If Earth Were Sky (And Sky Above)” poem: reflections on love and loss. 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.
Find Hope Here: Poetic Reflections on Grief and Healing
Find Hope Here: Poetic Reflections on Grief and Healing offers a heartfelt collection of poems that deeply resonate with the profound sorrow of parents who have experienced the unimaginable pain of losing a child to suicide. These poignant verses navigate the intense emotions of this tragic loss, beautifully capturing the stages of grief while gently guiding readers towards hope and healing on their journey through grief.
The Magnolia Tree: A Symbol of Grief and Resilience
The Magnolia Tree: A Symbol of Grief and Resilience, explores the author’s journey of grief through the metaphor of a Magnolia tree’s cyclical seasons. The author uses photography to illustrate the parallels between nature’s cycles and the seasons of grief, finding hope and healing in writing, gardening, and nature’s resilience. The Magnolia tree’s resilience symbolizes renewal and the possibility of finding joy again despite profound heartbreak. After reflections on nature’s resilience, the author reflects on grief and healing (echoes of joy and shadows of loss) after losing her son to suicide.
Navigating Grief After Losing a Child to Suicide: Essential Resources
Navigating Grief After Losing a Child to Suicide: Essential Resources offers an extensive collection of resources aimed at helping parents understand the complexities of suicide to help with their profound grief. This invaluable guide not only provides insights but also connects parents with supportive communities, fostering a sense of belonging and emphasizing gentle pathways to hope and healing during such a heartbreaking time.
Navigating Guilt in Grief: A Parent’s Guide offers a gentle and understanding perspective on the complex emotions that emerge after the devastating loss of a loved one through suicide, particularly from the vantage point of parents.This guide thoughtfully addresses the overwhelming and often contradictory feelings of grief, guilt, and sorrow that can envelop parents navigating such profound heartache.
Healing After Losing a Child to Suicide: A Guide for Parents
Healing After Losing a Child to Suicide: A Guide for Parents gently supports parents navigating the profound sorrow of losing a child to suicide. This heartfelt article acknowledges the intense grief that such a tragedy brings and offers compassionate guidance on finding a way forward. The healing strategies shared emphasize self-care and the importance of seeking professional help, while inviting parents to connect with others who understand their pain.
Carrying Ache and Love: Healing Longterm Grief in Suicide Loss
I have shared my grief journey on this blog, My Forever Son, reflecting on those painful early years and sharing glimmers of hope along the way. Through sleepless nights and tears, I found that my deep love for my son sustains me through his absence.
Carrying both ache and love after losing my son to suicide has been the crux of my grief journey these past 12 years. I share insights into healing from deep grief in the article, Carrying Ache and Love: Healing Longterm Grief in Suicide Loss, where ache for his absence and love for my son walk together in my heart. Holding hands, one is never without the other, but ache and love have carried me—and carry me still.
When Love Isn’t Enough: “Ode to Suicide: That We Might Understand”
When Love Isn’t Enough: “Ode to Suicide: That We Might Understand,”explores the complexities of suicide and includes a compassionate treatise written by the author, “Ode to Suicide: That We Might Understand,” challenging the notion that it is a choice. The treatise, “Ode to Suicide: That We Might Understand,” emphasizes the inevitability of death, regardless of the cause, and the limitations of love in preventing it. The author of the treatise “Ode to Suicide: That We Might Understand” and this article, “When Love Isn’t Enough,” Beth Brown shares her personal journey of grief after losing her son to suicide, finding solace in writing and nature photography.
Meet Dylan, My Forever Son
A joyful moment captured of Dylan, radiating happiness while seated outdoors, My Forever Son, Twenty Years of Love: Dylan
Twenty Years of Love: Dylan
“Twenty Years of Love: Dylan” offers a poignant exploration of grief and loss, weaving 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.
Walking Through Shadows: Surviving the Unthinkable Loss of a Child to Suicide
Walking through Shadows: Surviving the Unthinkable Loss of a Child to Suicideoffers 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.
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.
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.
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.
“On Baby’s Breath and Angel Wings” Poem: Grieving a Child’s Suicide
“On Baby’s Breath and Angel Wings” Poem: Grieving a Child’s Suicide delves into the deep, heart-wrenching sorrow of losing a child to suicide. This poignant piece not only articulates the immense pain of such a loss but also provides vital resources to navigate the challenging journey of grief. With tender personal reflections and thoughtful coping strategies, the post and poem, “On Baby’s Breath and Angel Wings” serves as a compassionate companion for those who are enduring similar heartaches.
A family gathering at a beautifully set table, featuring candles and a vase of pink roses, reflecting moments of love, loss, and healing, My Forever Son,A Grandmother’s Love Held Together the Family Table
A Grandmother’s Love Held Together the Family Table
A Grandmother’s Love Held Together the Family Table chronicles a family’s journey through the loss of their beloved son, Dylan. This tragedy alters their connections, turning a joyful gathering space into one of reflection. The narrative captures the struggle between despair and acceptance, underscoring love’s enduring power amidst heartache. In honoring Dylan’s memory, they find unexpected joy in their grief, illustrating the resilience of the human spirit in the face of loss.
Grandparents’ Double Grief: Losing a Grandchild to Suicide
Grandparents’ Double Grief: Losing a Grandchild to Suicide gently delves into the profound and heart-wrenching sorrow experienced by grandparents who endure the unimaginable loss of their grandchild. This painful journey envelops them in a dual mourning, as they grieve not only the precious life that is gone but also the shattered dreams and cherished memories that will sorrowfully remain unrealized for their own child, the grieving parent.
Memorial Day: A Mother’s Reflection on Loss, Love, and Unbearable Tragedy
Memorial Day: A Mother’s Reflection on Loss, Love, and Unbearable Tragedy beautifully captures the deep sorrow and unwavering love a mother feels for her son. The author bravely shares her heartfelt journey, navigating the immense pain and heartbreak tied to her son’s fourth suicide attempt on Memorial Day. Through her poignant narrative, she reveals the complex layers of a mother’s grief, intricately woven with fleeting moments of hope that resonate powerfully with anyone who is facing loss.
“Shaped by Love and This Grief Come to Stay”: A Poem on Suicide Loss
“Shaped by Love and This Grief Come to Stay” A Poem on Suicide Loss explores the profound sorrow a parent endures after losing a child to suicide. It addresses themes of grief and guilt, highlighting the heavy shadow such a tragedy casts on life. This poignant narrative captures a parent’s transformative journey in the wake of their child’s absence, revealing emotions of shame while confronting societal stigma surrounding suicide. With compassion and insight, the poem resonates with anyone who has faced similar heart-wrenching experiences.
11 Years After Suicide Loss: I Still Want to Believe
11 Years After Suicide Loss: I Still Want to Believe powerfully conveys the depths of my unyielding grief and a relentless yearning for my beloved son, Dylan, whose vibrant spirit was tragically stolen by suicide eleven heart-wrenching years ago at merely twenty. As my only child, his absence has carved an immense void in my soul, reshaping every facet of my life while perpetually stirring the cherished memories of the beautiful moments we once savored together.
A breathtaking view of a rocky mountain rising above a forested landscape, symbolizing the enduring strength and resilience in the face of adversity, “Ode to Suicide: That We Might Understand”–Poem Analysis, My Forever Son
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.
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.
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.
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.)
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.”)
A collection of books focused on understanding grief, suicide, and mental health support, My Forever Son, Finding Support After Losing a Child to Suicide
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.
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.
A grieving parent visits their child’s grave, reflecting on loss and remembrance, My Forever Son, Finding Hope After Losing a Child to Suicide: Parents’ Resource
Understanding Suicide: Why the Pain Matters Summary Understanding Suicide: Why the Pain Matters by author Beth Brown explores the pain and grief surrounding suicide, emphasizing that it is not a conscious choice but a desperate attempt to escape unbearable suffering. Her article highlights current research into understanding suicide and suicidal thinking, personal stories shared by…
Breaking the Stigma: Facts About Suicide and Compassion Summary Breaking the Stigma: Facts About Suicide and Compassion systematically dismantles the myths and misconceptions associated with suicide, promoting a comprehensive understanding anchored in empathy and care. It methodically examines the cultural, social, and economic factors that influence suicide rates, providing essential global statistics and expert insights…
Understanding Prolonged Grief Disorder After Suicide Summary Understanding Prolonged Grief Disorder After Suicide provides a detailed description of and discussion of “Prolonged Grief Disorder,” “previously known as complicated grief, describes long-term mourning after loss, especially from suicide. Suicide grief is complicated by guilt, shame, and societal stigma, making it difficult to move through. While labeling…
Understanding Suicide: Grief and Healing Insights Summary Understanding Suicide: Grief and Healing Insights examines prevalent misconceptions about suicide, emphasizing the importance of compassionate understanding and forgiveness in the grieving process. Drawing on insights from Ronald Rolheiser, it clarifies that suicide is primarily the result of mental health challenges rather than personal failure, and reassures that…
Understanding Grief: 3 Years After Losing a Child to Suicide Summary Understanding Grief: 3 Years After Losing a Child to Suicide offers insights into three years after losing a child to suicide where grief oftentimes transitions from acute anguish to a more integrated sorrow, where love and loss coexist. This “year of transition” involves rebuilding…
Holding True to My Son’s Narrative: “Shaped by Love” Poem Analysis Summary Holding True to My Son’s Narrative: “Shaped by Love” Poem Analysis by Beth Brown explores the profound connection between love and grief following the loss of her son to suicide. The poem emphasizes the author’s refusal to change her narrative of grief, asserting…
When Love Isn’t Enough: ‘Ode to Suicide: That We Might Understand’ Summary When Love Isn’t Enough: ‘Ode to Suicide: That We Might Understand’ unravels the profound complexities surrounding suicide, featuring an impactful poem and a heartfelt treatise by the author, “Ode to Suicide: That We Might Understand.” This poignant article and poetic reflection encourage readers…
A Decade After Suicide Loss: Reflections on Longterm Grief Summary A Decade After Suicide Loss: Reflections on Longterm Grief recounts the author’s decade-long healing journey after the loss of her son, Dylan. She shares her experiences of grief, resilience, and the significance of community support, therapy, and self-reflection. Finding solace in nature and gratitude for…
Carrying Ache and Love: Healing Longterm Grief After Suicide Loss Summary In Carrying Ache and Love: Healing Longterm Grief After Suicide Loss, the author recounts her profound grief and struggle to find meaning after losing her son to suicide. She describes the intense physical and emotional pain she endured, feeling hopeless and alone. Seeking support…
From Sorrow to Joy: How Pain Colors Loss in Grief Summary The article “From Sorrow to Joy: How Pain Colors Loss in Grief” explores the author’s journey of grief and healing after losing her son to suicide. Through a magnet symbolizing the struggle between pain and hope, the author reflects on the possibility of finding…
Understanding Suicide: It’s Not a Choice Summary The article, Understanding Suicide: It’s Not a Choice, affirms with well-documented research that suicide is not a choice, but a tragic outcome of intense emotional pain and distorted judgment. The stigma surrounding suicide persists, hindering understanding and perpetuating the misconception that it is a selfish act. Suicide epidemiologists…
Finding Beauty in Loss: Reflections on Grief and Healing Key Takeaways Summary Finding Beauty in Loss: Reflections on Grief and Healing shares author Beth Brown’s journey of grief and healing after losing her son, Dylan, to suicide. Through poetry and nature photography, she finds solace and a way to express her overwhelming emotions after suicide loss.…
Finding Hope, Healing, and Resilience in Nature Summary The article Finding Hope, Healing, and Resilience in Nature explores the theme of finding hope and healing through nature after losing a child to suicide. It describes the emotional connection with nature and its capacity to heal after grief, using the arrival of spring as a symbol…
The Magnolia Tree: A Symbol of Grief and Resilience Summary The Magnolia Tree: A Symbol of Grief and Resilience explores the author’s journey of grief through the metaphor of a Magnolia tree’s cyclical seasons. The author uses photography to illustrate the parallels between nature’s cycles and the seasons of grief, finding hope and healing in…
Understanding the Pain of Suicide Loss: “When Someone is Too Bruised to Be Touched” Summary The article “Understanding the Pain of Suicide Loss: “When Someone is Too Bruised to Be Touched” explores the profound grief and struggles faced by those left behind after a loved one dies by suicide. It features Father Ronald Rolheiser’s insightful…
Understanding the Unique Aspects of Suicide Grief Summary Understanding the Unique Aspects of Suicide Grief explores the unique challenges of coping with suicide grief. The author, who lost her son to suicide, shares her personal experiences, her emotional journey, and provides resources for emotional support and understanding. The post includes a collection of articles and…
“Rain Comes to Heal Us All” Poem: Finding Hope After Losing a Child to Suicide Summary “Rain Comes to Heal Us All” Poem: Finding Hope After Loss conveys a powerful message of hope for parents grieving a child’s suicide. Acknowledging the profound sorrow of loss and the traumatic grief of losing a child to suicide,…
“Travel On My Brave Soldier”: A Poem of Hope Summary “Travel On My Brave Soldier”: A Poem of Hope addresses grieving parents who have suffered the unimaginable loss of a child to suicide. It underscores the profound importance of honoring their child’s memory through meaningful rituals, sharing heartfelt stories, and engaging in advocacy events that…
2023 Suicide Statistics: A Deep Dive Into the Crisis Introduction ABOUT THIS POST: 2023 Suicide Statistics: A Deep Dive Into the Crisis provides a comprehensive overview of suicide facts and figures, highlighting the urgent need for increased awareness and accessible mental health resources. The post includes quotes from leading suicide epidemiologists and researchers, emphasizing the…
Dylan’s Story: Suicide Warning Signs for College Parents Summary Dylan’s Story: Suicide Warning Signs for College Parents provides a poignant personal story intertwined with expert advice on identifying warning signs of suicide in college students, Suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students, with 10% contemplating suicide annually. Warning signs include overt…
Musician. Writer. Literary Connoisseur. Always writing, scribbling poetry, turning feelings into words. "Break my heart even further" can't ever be done, for I lost my heart the night I lost my son. Come find me writing at My Forever Son: Grief, Hope, and Healing After Losing My Son to Suicide.
At the whim of Most Beloved Cat, I write as she tattles on the garden cats. Find Most Beloved Cat sharing her stories at Gardens at Effingham: Where Cats Tell the Tales
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