Helping Teens Cope with Grief After Death by Suicide
-Jodi
It's so tragic because teenagers will have impulsive deaths by suicide and we often hear this comes up after relationship issues or breakups.
I would normalize it for the teenagers and for the boyfriends and girlfriends who find themselves in this or similar situations. Breaking up and having relationship issues are normal events -- and a death by suicide is not a normal event. We cannot blame ourselves for that. We have to remind that teenager going through this that they were just living their lives. They did not know their actions would contribute or cause a death. We have to help those teenagers not blame themselves.
We also need to change how we look at mental health issues. We need to let teenagers know that seeing a therapist is not a problem or a weakness they have. The same way we maintain our air conditioners and our computers, we need to maintain our bodies and our minds. When we take the stigma out of mental health issues among teenagers, we can talk openly about our mental health issues and challenges.
Thanks for reading.
-David Kessler
These new approaches have evolved the 5 Stages Model, as well as other models, and are designed to help you meet your clients where they are in the grieving process—without classifying them or putting them on a timeline. They give you the tools and language to talk with your clients about grief and grieving in deeper, more meaningful ways… So your clients can feel free of internal judgment and shame, thinking they should be “grieving better” than they are because they’re making others uncomfortable.
David Kessler is one of the world’s foremost experts on grief and loss. His experience with thousands of people on the edge of life and death has taught him the secrets to living a happy and fulfilled life, even after life’s tragedies.
He is the author of six books, including his latest bestselling book, Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief. He co-authored two books with Elisabeth Kubler Ross, Life Lessons and On Grief and Grieving, updating her 5 stages for grief. He also co-wrote, You Can Heal Your Heart with Louise Hay. He authored Visions Trips and Crowded Rooms: Who and What You See Before You Die. His first book, The Needs of The Dying received praise from Saint (Mother) Teresa.
David’s personal experience as a child witnessing a mass shooting while his mother was dying in a hospital helped him begin his journey. For most of his life, David has taught physicians, nurses, counselors, police, and first responders about the end of life, trauma, and grief. However, despite his vast knowledge of grief, his life was turned upside down by the sudden death of his twenty-one-year-old son.
David’s volunteer work includes being a founding member of Project Angel Food, a well-known and loved non-profit organization. He currently serves on the board of The Farrah Fawcett Foundation which provides cancer research, patient assistance, and prevention efforts. He also serves as Specialist Reserve for the Los Angeles Police as well as having served on the Red Cross’s disaster services team.
He has a new online model of grief support called Tender Hearts with over 25 groups each as well as one of the most respected Grief Certification programs. He is the founder of www.grief.com, which receives millions of visits yearly providing helpful resources to over 167 countries.
Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: David Kessler is the is the co-founder and President Emeritus of Project Angel Food. He is a published author and receives royalties. David Kessler receives a speaking honorarium and recording and book royalties from Psychotherapy Networker and PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: David Kessler is a board member for the Farrah Fawcett Foundation. He is a team member of the Health Care Executives of Southern California, the Los Angeles Police Department, and the Red Cross.
