Everyone talks about the person who committed the act of suicide. What about a person who witnessed the suicide? What if this person was a child? This could be a child of any age from very young right up to being 16years old. We have to remember, even though they look big and grown up, 14 and 15 years old people are still children in most countries. They are just giants with their brains still in development. In many countries, as in the UK, you are classed as a child until you reach the age of 16.
So, what do you think happens to children that witness suicide?
The answer is, anything can happen. From having nightmares and emotional trauma for weeks, months or even years, to committing suicide themselves. The list of consequences is endless. Yes! It does happen, children have been known to commit suicide after witnessing one. Suicidal thinking does not discriminate regarding age or gender.
How can it be stopped?
GIVE YOURSELF A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE, for asking this thoughtful question. You can help to stop this by doing two most important things.
LISTEN and RESPOND, thoughtfully.
LISTEN to the child. Do not dismiss what they say to you. A confident child may at first talk to an adult, but often would not talk again about their trauma if it is brushed off the first time they speak about it. Their talking about it may be their way of asking for your help even though they don’t ask directly. The child may become withdrawn if not listened to and not taken seriously. Show you are caring and genuine and listen to the child. Just Listen. It is important to pick up the information he/she is telling you. Respond to the child’s needs. It is advisable that you do not comment other than to show you are listening and you care. Forward their information to a medical practitioner that would be able to provide the right support for the child. Someone that is trained to say the right things to them.
Remember, at this stage, keep a BIG WATCHFUL EYE on the child, especially if they are a teenager. Teenagers tend to do the worst things that you don’t expect. I used to be a teenager that often contemplated thoughts of suicide. Fortunately, the love from my parents and siblings kept me from harming myself. My suicidal tendencies stopped when I was aged 25. This just goes to show suicidal thoughts do not disappear very quickly. It is not safe to assume within the first year of a child witnessing a suicide, that he/she has been completely healed from the trauma. It is far more probable that they have not recovered.
Ann’s mum: “Ann is doing well; she had A grades for all subjects”
Mrs Adam (neighbour): “That’s great news! A brain like that belongs in Oxford University”
Ann, in her room, overheard the conversation : “If only she knew what I am about to do in the next 2 hours”
DO NOT BE DECIEVED if they appear all happy and back to life as before. What the eye sees is not always the truth. My novel,ON THE BRIDGE , is about the deadly consequences on a family of three that witness a suicide. Though it just fiction, the metaphorical events in this book are not far from the real world. I wrote this book as a reflection of my own inner thinking when I was in the worst state of my life. I believe there are many teenagers currently experiencing this confusion at this very moment, as you are reading this article. They are often misunderstood by their families and friends as just going through hormonal changes or being rebellious. Don’t rely on it.
ON THE BRIDGE
A Novel
Evil waits on the bridge.
It was just like any other normal day for 15-year-old school boy Doug Norman. As usual he was picked up by his parents from his school. The family enjoyed a brief chat while driving back home. The weather was bright and sunny. It was a beautiful day until their car’s tire burst while crossing a bridge.
Then it happened.
A well dressed businessman pulled over in front of them in his posh Ferrari. He got out of the car carrying a rare, distinguished suitcase. There was something sinister about him, but Doug and his family never took notice. Just like that, in a blink of an eye, the man took his own life in the most tragic way anyone can imagine. The events that follow afterwards, Douglas and his family were never prepared for.
A teenage boy struggles with the unknown.
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