b'Hearing how others have struggled through and survived the pain, confusion, questions, and stigma of suicide loss is an important part of the healing process for many survivors.Helping Children CopeListen to their questions, and try to offer honest, straightforward, developmental and age appropriateresponses.Suicide loss survivors frequently seek advice about how to discuss suicide with children. Here are some suggestions:Tell the truthin simple, age-appropriate language; explain that their loved one died of an illnessa brain illness; an example for an elementary age child: I have something I need to tell you that is really hard. Mommy died this morning when you were away at school. Mommys brain was not working right. She died because she took more pills than youre supposed to take, and her body stopped working.When you have a choice, tell them as soon as you have the news, in a place where both you and they will feel comfortable; often, not telling the truth can lead a child/teen to create a story that may be worse than whatactually happenedReassure them that the death was not their faultResist the urge to keep the suicide a secret out of fear that the child will copy the behavior of the deceased; just as families with hypertension, diabetes or heart disease are educated about early warning signs and prevention, relatives of suicide victims need to understand the early Resource and Healing Guide 17'