Healing through Poetry: Grieving a Child’s Loss to Suicide

Healing Through Poetry: Grieving a Child’s Loss to Suicide

Summary

“Healing through Poetry: Grieving a Child’s Loss” is a collection of poems and photographs by the author, Beth Brown, that explore the profound grief and healing journey after losing a child to suicide. The poems, featured in the book “Bury My Heart: 19 Poems for Grief and Healing After Losing a Child to Suicide,” offer a poignant and relatable exploration of grief, hope, and resilience. The author shares her personal experience of losing her son to suicide and finding solace in writing, photography, and nature.

Introduction

Healing through Poetry: Grieving a Child’s Loss to Suicide tenderly navigates the profoundly difficult path of healing following the unimaginable loss of a child to suicide. Heartfelt poems, paired with evocative visuals weave together a soothing experience, inviting readers to deeply connect with the raw emotions that resonate within each verse.

This combination in Healing through Poetry: Grieving a Child’s Loss to Suicide enhances the emotional connection, providing solace to those who have faced similar struggles, while also offering a safe space for reflection and understanding. Through the interplay of heartfelt words and evocative imagery, the post encourages the grieving to acknowledge their pain, embrace their memories, and find a pathway toward healing and hope in the midst of despair.

Related Reads

• Finding Hope After Losing a Child: Poetry and Healing
• Healing Poems for Grieving Parents of Suicide Loss
• “Sorrow Buried in Love”: A Poem for Grieving Parents
• Support for Parents Grieving a Child’s Suicide: Guidance, Resources, and Healing
• Download 3 Compassionate Poems for Grieving Parents

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My Forever Son

Table of Contents

Where to Start: Immediate Steps for Newly Bereaved Parents

If you have just lost a child to suicide, the pain and confusion may feel overwhelming. In these first days and weeks, it’s important to allow yourself to grieve and seek support. Here are some initial steps to consider:

• Reach Out for Help: Contact a trusted friend, family member, or mental health professional. You do not have to face this alone—support is available even when words may fail.
• Find a Safe Space: Give yourself permission to rest and process your emotions, whether that’s at home, with loved ones, or in a quiet place where you feel safe.
• Connect with Support Groups: Many parents find comfort in sharing their stories with others who have experienced similar loss. Local and online support groups specifically for suicide loss survivors can provide understanding and community.
• Practice Self-Compassion: Grief is complex and unique for everyone. Take small steps, accept help when offered, and remind yourself that healing will take time.
• Consider Professional Guidance: Therapists and counselors specializing in grief and trauma can help you navigate the intense emotions and challenges that arise after losing a child to suicide.

Remember, there is no right or wrong way to grieve, and it’s okay to seek help at any point in your journey. These first steps are about finding safety, connection, and compassionate support as you begin to heal.

Testimonials and Brief Case Studies

• Maria, a bereaved mother: “In the early days after my son’s passing, I felt completely lost. Joining a support group helped me realize I wasn’t alone, and sharing my story became a powerful part of my healing.”
• James, a school counselor: “Supporting grieving students and their families taught me the value of simply listening. Sometimes, the most meaningful help I could offer was being present and validating their pain.”
• The Smith Family: “We started a memory garden in honor of our daughter. Planting flowers and tending to the garden together gave us a way to express our love and keep her memory alive.”
• Personal Stories & Reflections
• “I remember the first days after losing my child—how every hour felt impossible. Finding support helped me take the first steps toward healing. I want other parents to know that it’s okay to ask for help and that you’re not alone.”–Parent, in healing

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The Strong Bond Between Visual Art and Poetry

The poems and photos in Healing Poems for Grieving Parents of Suicide Loss, My Forever Son beautifully capture the strong bond between visual art and poetry, offering readers a powerful and touching experience.

The introduction to the book, Bury My Heart: 19 Poems for Grief and Healing After Losing a Child to Suicide, along with the resources for support, hope, and healing, provides helpful insights and paths for those looking to explore these difficult emotions further.

Reflection and Journaling Space

Personal reflection can play a vital role in the healing journey. Use the space below to write down your thoughts, feelings, or memories about your loved one or your experiences as a professional supporting families. Journaling may help you process emotions and find moments of peace.

• What is one memory of your loved one that brings you comfort?
• How are you feeling today? What emotions are most present for you?
• What do you wish you could say to your loved one or to others who may be grieving?

(Feel free to print this page or keep a journal nearby for ongoing reflection.)

Testimonials and Brief Case Studies

• Maria, a bereaved mother: “In the early days after my son’s passing, I felt completely lost. Joining a support group helped me realize I wasn’t alone, and sharing my story became a powerful part of my healing.”
• James, a school counselor: “Supporting grieving students and their families taught me the value of simply listening. Sometimes, the most meaningful help I could offer was being present and validating their pain.”
• The Smith Family: “We started a memory garden in honor of our daughter. Planting flowers and tending to the garden together gave us a way to express our love and keep her memory alive.”
• Personal Stories & Reflections
• “I remember the first days after losing my child—how every hour felt impossible. Finding support helped me take the first steps toward healing. I want other parents to know that it’s okay to ask for help and that you’re not alone.”–Parent, in healing

If you would like to share your own story or reflection, please refer to the journaling space above or consider reaching out to your support network.

Creative Ways to Honor Your Child’s Memory

• Create a Memory Garden: Plant flowers, trees, or a special garden space in your child’s honor, tending to it as a living tribute.
• Artistic Expression: Paint, draw, write poetry, or compose music inspired by your child or your memories together.
• Memory Box or Scrapbook: Collect photos, letters, and mementos in a decorated box or scrapbook to revisit and cherish.
• Charity or Scholarship Fund: Start a scholarship, charity, or fundraiser in your child’s name to support causes they cared about.
• Annual Remembrance Rituals: Light a candle, release balloons, or hold a gathering on special dates to celebrate your child’s life.
• Personalized Jewelry or Keepsakes: Wear a piece of jewelry or carry a keepsake engraved with your child’s name or a meaningful message.
• Acts of Kindness: Perform random acts of kindness or volunteer in your community in your child’s memory.
• Creative Projects: Make a quilt from your child’s clothing, or craft something meaningful that reminds you of them.
• Story Sharing: Write or share stories about your child with friends, family, or support groups to keep their memory alive.

These creative acts can provide comfort, foster connection, and help parents find meaning as they honor their child’s legacy.

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A Heartfelt Message My Forever Son

Healing Through Gardening and Writing After the Loss of My Son

I write to mend my heart, grieving the loss of my only child, my precious 20-year-old son Dylan, who tragically died by suicide on June 25, 2012. In my journey towards healing, I find solace in capturing the beauty of flowers, shrubs, and trees that flourish through the seasons.

I share these heartfelt photographs along with my story of navigating deep grief in several posts throughout this blog, My Forever Son.

Finding Hope in Nature’s Resilience Through Spring Flowers is deeply moving, capturing the emotional journey of finding hope and healing through nature following the loss of a child to suicide. The heartfelt connection to nature is beautifully expressed, illustrating how the serene beauty of the natural world offers solace and strength during difficult times in grief.

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.

Finding Hope, Healing, and Resilience in Nature: has been integral to moving through my grief after losing my 20-year-old-son, my only child, to suicide eleven years ago. Healing the deep wound of losing my son is ongoing in my life. I find color, hope, and peace in nature. Spring brings the reawakening of all the flowers, shrubs, and trees that lay dormant over the long, cold, bitter months of winter.

Transforming Grief into Healing Through Writing

Gardening, capturing moments through photography, and expressing my feelings in poetry, blog posts, books, and songs have become my refuge in this turbulent time following the devastating loss of my son to suicide.

Gardening, capturing moments through photography, and expressing my feelings in poetry, blog posts, books, and songs have become my refuge in this turbulent time following the devastating loss of my son to suicide. Finding Immediate Support Resources for Suicide Loss Survivors offers links to vital resources and support that have played a crucial role in helping me rediscover hope and healing during this profound grief journey.

[Suggested Reading]: From Sorrow to Joy: How Pain Colors Loss in Grief  shares the author’s heartfelt journey through grief and healing following the heartbreaking loss of her son to suicide. Using a magnet as a powerful symbol of the continuous struggle between pain and hope, the author conveys the poignant message that even amidst profound sorrow, there exists a pathway to light and joy. She beautifully illustrates the profound connection between sorrow and joy, emphasizing that light can indeed coexist with darkness in our lives.

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.

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.

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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 poignant poem in Find Hope Here: Poetic Reflections on Grief and Healing is a dedicated blog post in its own right, replete with the inspiration behind the poem.

The poems included in Find Hope Here: Poetic Reflections on Grief and Healing appear below. Each poem is a blog post in its own right, oftentimes replete with the inspiration behind the poem.

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.

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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.

Embracing Grief: A Mother’s Poetic Journey

From journaling to discovering the poetic language that encapsulates my grief, I penned my path to healing, culminating in the creation of my book, Bury My Heart: 19 Poems for Grief and Healing After Losing a Child to Suicide.

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.

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“If Only a Mother’s Love Could Have Saved You”

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Derecho: A Storm Out of Nowhere– Grief Poem “He Left Too Soon”

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

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“That All of Love Could Sweep Time Back”

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“Once Upon a Blue-Sky Moon“

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“If Earth Were Sky (And Sky Above)“

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Healing Through Poetry: Grieving a Child’s Loss to Suicide

Download 3 Compassionate Poems

Healing Words: Download 3 Compassionate Poems for Coping with the Loss of a Child

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Healing Through Poetry: Grieving a Child’s Loss to Suicide

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The Story of My Forever Son

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Meet the Author, Beth Brown

Getting to Know the Heart Behind the Words

A Heart Unbroken: The Journey of Healing

I’ve created a poignant collection of poems, Bury My Heart: 19 Poems for Grief and Healing After Losing a Child to Suicide, that explores the profound journey of healing after the heartbreaking loss of a child to suicide. This collection is now available on Amazon Kindle, offering heartfelt comfort and solace for those navigating their grief.

Resources for Support, Hope, and Healing

Professional Resources for Support

Parents of Suicides: An Online Support Group for Parents Who Lose a Child to Suicide

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Parents of Suicides is a dedicated international online closed email group where parents who have lost a child to suicide come together to offer support, hope, and healing. Join a Community of Understanding. Parents of Suicides (PoS) provides a safe space for sharing experiences, coping mechanisms, and emotional support. You are not alone in this journey. Together, we can find strength and solace.

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Professional Resources and Support

Parents of Suicides is a compassionate, international online community for parents who have tragically lost a child to suicide, providing a safe space for support, connection, and resources to aid in their healing journey.

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is a compassionate nonprofit organization devoted to saving lives and offering hope to individuals and families impacted by the profound pain of suicide.

Alliance of Hope for Suicide Loss Survivors offers compassionate healing support for those navigating the profound shock, heart-wrenching grief, and intricate emotions that arise from losing a cherished loved one to suicide.

The American Association of Suicidology is a compassionate membership organization dedicated to deepening our understanding of suicide and working tirelessly to prevent it, fostering hope and healing for those affected.

Nationwide Children’s Hospital Suicide Research Center is dedicated to conducting compassionate research focused on understanding and reducing suicidal behaviors, as well as providing valuable insights to prevent the profound pain of suicide.

Mayo Clinic offers compassionate insights into the profound sorrow of losing a loved one to suicide, helping us navigate the complex emotions that accompany such grief and providing guidance on finding solace and support during this incredibly challenging time.

The Compassionate Friends provide invaluable Grief Resources & Support Groups for Parents and Families navigating the profound heartache of losing a child, offering comfort and connection during an incredibly difficult time.

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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.

Need Help Now?

If you or someone you know is struggling with overwhelming grief, suicidal thoughts, or a mental health crisis, immediate help is available. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides free, confidential support 24/7. Simply call or text 988 to connect with a trained counselor who can offer guidance, resources, and compassionate support for parents and families in need. You are not alone, and reaching out can be a crucial first step toward healing and safety.

Personal Narratives

“After my son’s death, I felt completely lost. The support group gave me a safe space to share my pain and begin to heal.”

—Parent Story

Personal stories like these offer comfort and understanding. Each narrative is paired with practical guidance, helping parents connect their experiences to actionable resources.

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