There is no other human behaviour more stigmatized across cultures than suicide. According to the World Health Organization, an estimate of 700 000 people take their own lives each year, and there are a lot more who only attempt to do so. In a lot of cases, there is a child who is left wondering: why did my parent do this?
The following podcast takes a deep dive into the effects growing up with a suicidal parent has on the development and well-being of a child. What are the do’s and dont’s of the aftermath of suicide attempt and what are some of the things a suicide survivor needs?
To help us unpack this we have invited two guests to shed some light on this topic: Kaire Talviste, who is a Clinical Gestalt Therapist, and Eva Koženevski - a suicide survivor and an outspoken advocate on breaking the silence around suicide.
NB! If you know someone or are someone, who is struggling with mental health (and suicidal ideations) we urge you to find help with some of the resources listed below.
RESOURCES FOR HELP
Phone numbers:
Child support helpline: 116111 (24h)
Psychological support hotline (soul care): 116123 (24/7)
Psychological crisis counselling (Tallinn): 6 314 300
In case of acute emergency call 112.
Helpful websites:
Eluliin (Lifeline): https://eluliin.ee/
Peaasi (Head Matters): https://peaasi.ee/en/
Online counselling (in EST; ENG; RUS): https://noustamine.peaasi.ee/kysi-noustajalt
Support group website for people, who have lost their loved one to suicide (EST) run by our guest Eva Koženevski: https://puudutamesydameid.ee/
Support groups on Facebook (EST):
Kinnine Facebooki grupp inimestele, kes on kaotanud lähedase suitsiidile:
PUUDUTAME SÜDAMEID:https://www.facebook.com/groups/2064108190416949
Kinnine Facebooki grupp inimestele, kes on kaotanud lapse suitsiidile (olenemata vanusest):
TAEVA LAPSED: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1802618779919992/
This episode was produced by: Daria Litvichenko, Getter Meresmaa, Joosep Soekõrv, Lauren Teesalu.
Thank you to our supervisors and mentors Terry McDonald and Avo Ulvik!
Further reading:
Abrams, R. (2013). When parents die: Learning to live with the loss of a parent. Oxon: Routledge. Taylor & Francis Group.
Cain, A. C. (2002) Children of Suicide: The Telling and the Knowing, Psychiatry, 65(2), 124-136.
Joiner, T. (2011). Myths About Suicide. London: Harvard University Press.
Silvén Hagström, A. (2019). “Why did he choose to die?”: A meaning-searching approach to parental suicide bereavement in youth. Death Studies, 43(2), 113–121.
Wilson, S., Heath, M. A., Wilson, P., Cutrer-Parraga, E., Coyne, S. M., & Jackson, A. P. (2022). Survivors’ perceptions of support following a parent’s suicide. Death Studies,46(4), 791–802.
McCormack, C. & Webb, N. B. (2010). Suicide in the Family. In N. B. Webb (Ed.), Helping Beraved Children. A Handbook for Practitioners (pp. 109-128). New York: Guilford Publications.
WHO. (2021). Suicide. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/suicide
