The nonprofit, Zero Suicide is creating a series of helpful videos and wants to interview parents whose child has made a serious suicide attempt for a video to share with other parents who have a child recently discharged after a suicide attempt. It is meant to be informative for parents in this position in terms of supporting the myriad of feelings that they are experiencing.
This video will be shared with parents of youth under 18 years old whose child has just been discharged from a hospital or ER.
We have enough suicide loss survivors and need parents of children and families who survived the experience.
Criteria:
We are looking for a parent:
- Whose child is under 18, or was under 18 at the time of their suicide attempt
- Parents whose child survived the attempt (we already have enough parents who are suicide loss survivors)
- Parents who live in or near Washington DC, Colorado (Yes, the whole state), Columbus OH. Or a parent close enough to drive to one of those cities/areas.
They plan to interview this parent about:
- How they felt in this situation and where they got support
- What they think parents in this situation should know
- What they wish someone had told them
- What they have learned
- Suggestions for what to do and say to their child
- How to support their child
- Where to access resources or how to think about quality care
If you can help with this project and help another parent struggling with this issue, please click the blue button below and fill out the google form. There is no compensation and the videos will be professionally produced.
For healthcare and behavioral healthcare systems dedicated to improving patient safety, Zero Suicide presents an aspirational challenge and practical framework for system-wide transformation toward safer suicide care.
I read your book. It was similar to what I’ve been thru. I lost my son to suicide 9-20-2020. The absolute worst day of my life. I have struggled to keep living without him. I missed the signs. He was 31. He had struggled with mental illness since the age of 15. He had OCD, severe anxiety. He couldn’t be around people. He had one job his whole life. It lasted about 3 months. I tried to get him help initially. He seemed to improve and went to college. Got a degree in psychology because He wanted to help people who suffered from the same illnesses that he did. That didn’t happen. Somewhere about 2 to 3 years before his death he became worse and intentionally withdrew from the friends he had except one. A woman he met online who eventually moved here to be closer to him. She was widowed with no parents, children or siblings. They knew each other for 10 years. They talked everyday and when she moved here they spent a lot of time together. She became ill and died unexpectedly in February 2020. He wasn’t the same after her death. It was as if he’d lost his purpose and I think he did. She had her own struggles but they were there for each other. He was my youngest. I have a daughter that has mental health issues as well. We have raised her son since birth. He also has autism spectrum disorder. I was close to my son and his death has devastated me. I did not think I was going to survive. There are days I still don’t. I don’t know how to heal. I am haunted by so many regrets and guilt. I see a therapist but it hasn’t helped much. I felt a kinship reading your book. I have read quite a few books about losing a child to suicide. Thank you for sharing the story of your son.
Thank you for finding me and telling me your story. I would be so grateful if you left a written review.
https://amzn.to/2pw5id8
The first three years are especially hard. And all that pain means you are healing. It is one of those things you don’t see when you are in it. I talk to a lot of people like your son. People who really struggle for a long time with suicide. Where I think your son was really lucky besides having you as a mom was that widow. He had another person who loved him just the way he was. So while both our stories are sad that made me feel so hopeful and grateful he had that in his life. I think it did give him purpose and so many die without ever having experienced that.
As for all the guilt and regrets those of us who are suicide loss survivors really struggle with that. Here is an article of how I dealt with that. I also went to a grief group. That worked for me as well but everyone is different.
https://annemoss.com/2022/04/21/are-the-what-ifs-and-coulda-woulda-shouldas-stalking-you/
Thank you again for finding me and commenting. It means a lot. My heart is with you. If you ever feel you are ready to share your story on this blog you have a good start here. It can be a healing step but no pressure.