In this second of a two-part series on suicide, we will move from a discussion on the suicidal individual and ways to seek help for them to those who have survived the suicide of a loved one. Dr. Amy Canuso, a Psychiatrist at St. Anthony Regional Hospital, says she cannot stress to those individuals enough, this is not their fault.
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Suicide, she says, is often like someone drowning and you throw them a rope…but they don’t take it. Because they don’t take a hold of that lifeline and access a mechanism of survival, it is not your fault. You did not make that choice. And as is the case in many circumstances, if you didn’t even know a person was drowning, you never had the opportunity to throw that rope. Understanding this is extremely difficult for anyone, but especially for children.
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Canuso says there are many resources out there, and some of these can be found below. She points out others that can offer support.
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There are also national and local organizations ready to help families and friends get through this difficult time.
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This is a process, Canuso says, and it will take time to heal, not only from the grief of losing a loved one, but also in learning how to cope with the manner in which that death occurred. In addition to resources, the full interview with Dr. Canuso can be found hear.
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Full interview with Dr. Amy Canuso:
https://www.1380kcim.com/episode/kcim-interview-dr-amy-canuso-of-st-anthony-regional-hospital/
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For young children:
- The Fall of Freddie the Leaf Leo Buscaglia, Ph.D. (Henry Holt and Company, LLC)
- The Invisible String Patrice Karst
- Life is Like the Wind Shona Innes
- When Dinosaurs Die Laurie Krasny Brown & Marc Brown (Little Brown Company)
- The Gift of the Ladybug Carole Amber
- I Heard Your Mommy Died Mark Scrivani
- I Heard Your Daddy Died Mark Scrivani
- This Book is for All Kids, but Especially My Sister Libby. She Died. Jack & Annette Simon (Andrews McMeel Publishing)
- Am I Still a Sister? Alicia Sims
- I Miss You: A First Look at Death Pat Thomas and Leslie Harker
For older children:
- Tear Soup Pat Schwiebert and Chuck Deklyen
For adolescents:
- Your Grieving Heart: 100 Practical ideas for teens Alan D. Wofelt (Companion Press)
- When a Friend Dies: A Book for Teens About Grieving and Healing Gootman, M. (Author) & Espeland, P. (Ed.) (1994). Free Spirit Publishing
It Gets Better project for LGBTQ kids: https://itgetsbetter.org/
Adult books:
- Dying to Be Free: A Healing Guide for Families after a Suicide
Beverly Cobain and Jean Larch, Hazelden Foundation, 2006 - The Gift of Second: Healing from the Impact of Suicide
Brandy Lidbeck, Gift Pub, 2016 - No Time to Say Goodby by Carla Fine
- Suicide of a Child
Adina Wrobleski, Centering Corp., 2002 - Survivors of Suicide
Rita Robinson and Phyllis Hart, New Page Books, 2001. - Unfinished Conversation: Healing from Suicide and Loss — A Guided Journey
Robert E. Lesoine and Marilynne Chopel, Parallax Press, 2013
St. Anthony Regional Hospital Crisis Line: 800-562-6060
National Suicide Hotline: 800-273-8255
Iowa Suicide Hotline: 800-332-4224