Richard Hogan: How we talk to kids about suicide must be improved

Grainne Gill, Eimear Doran, Helen O’Reegan pictured Greystones Co Wicklow taking part in Pieta’s Darkness Into Light 2021. Picture - Andres Poveda

Last Saturday 140,000 people, all over the world, took part in the annual ‘Darkness into Light’ event to raise funds for suicide prevention. Incredibly, in the midst of a global health crisis, more than €6m was raised. There is something wonderful about the Irish people and the depths of their generosity. But the terrible reality remains, most of us are impacted by suicide, directly or indirectly. So, the funds raised will provide vital support for families all over the country.

Working clinically with a family bereaved by suicide can be very difficult work. I often talk with children who are trying to make sense of what happened to their parent. So much stigma is present in their narrative about what has happened. Much of what we hear about suicide is incorrect, and damaging to the minds left dealing with the aftermath.