My Grief Is Like the Ocean: A Story for Children Who Lost a Parent to Suicide
Children grieving a parent’s death to suicide may find themselves wading through complex emotions, grief responses, and questions. As support professionals & family members, we may also be searching for appropriate words & ways to show up for each child affected by a suicide loss. At Eluna we recommend vetted & established children’s books to lean into these important conversations, such as My Grief is Like the Ocean – written by mental health professionals.
Using the latest research and clinical guidance, and told from the perspective of a boy who lost his father to suicide, My Grief is Like the Ocean will help children to feel supported and seen. When caregivers and children read this book together, they will gain a valuable resource for engaging in honest, informative and heartfelt discussions to help families heal. This book will:
- Help children and caregivers talk about their grief experiences
- Normalize and encourage the many emotions a child may feel after a loss due to suicide
- Promote important dialogue and concrete ways to seek help for mental illness
- Provide caregivers with ideas for developmentally appropriate coping skills
- Offer additional resources caregivers can access for further support
Given the thoroughness and length of the book, we recommend this for children ranging from age 4 to 11. For younger readers, you may want to break the book up into smaller reading sessions – just a few pages at a time. For older children you can follow their lead – encouraging them to take all the pauses and time that they need. You can also invite older children – even teens – to read the book to younger siblings or family members.
**Eluna is an affiliate of Bookshop.org and a percentage of your purchase will generate a commission to directly support The Eluna Resource Center.
