Online Support Group for Parents Bereaved of a Pre-teen or a Teenager (aged 10-19) to Suicide

24 June 2025, 19.00 – 20.30

Online Via Zoom

We’re sorry but this online support group is now fully booked. We do give priority to those who have not attended a group before and we do sometimes have cancellations so if you would like to attend please email us at events@tcf.org.uk to go on the waiting list. Thank you.

These groups are suitable for parents who have been bereaved for at least three months. If your loss is more recent (under three months), we encourage you to contact our helpline for one-to-one listening support on 0345 123 2304 – our helpline team are all bereaved parent volunteers.

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LOSING A PRE-TEEN OR TEENAGE CHILD TO SUICIDE (between the ages of 10 and 19)

ABOUT THIS GROUP

The death of a child is always shattering, but for the parents of a teenager or younger child who has taken their life, this can feel particularly hard to cope with. Often our child may still be living at home or is in the first year or two of college or university. There will be so many unanswerable questions for surviving family and friends.

Our minds may regularly go over and over what we could have done to prevent this tragedy. We may feel a strong sense of guilt. What was wrong with our parenting that led to this ? Did we fail our child in some way? 

We may have the additional stress of coping with the media, our child’s school, college or university, the police and coroner. Hardest of all can be the reactions of others. 

We may have surviving children to support or if our only child has taken their life then we may feel even more bereft and isolated. This online group will enable us to share how we have found ways to cope when our child who was in their teens or pre-teens has died by suicide. 

What parents at a recent group have said:

‘Really grateful that this group was created. We all felt that we have different needs to parents who’ve lost an older adult child. Narrowing down based on our child’s age was very valuable, thank you.’

‘Great to meet other parents in a similar situation and talk openly about our worries and questions.’

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

This group is for anyone who is bereaved of a younger pre-teen or teenage child by suicide. For the purposes of this group we suggest that your child was aged between 10 and 19 when they took their life.

We do apologise but this online group is not suitable for anyone bereaved 3 months or less. If you are under 3 months bereaved please contact the Helpline on 0345 123 2304 for listening support.

To keep the group as helpful as possible, we limit the number of attendees. Please note we give priority to parents who have not attended an online group before.

Once you book you will receive more details and the Zoom link closer to the meeting date. Just a reminder to check your spam or junk email folders if you haven’t received the link for the online meeting by the day of the meeting. Please contact info@tcf.org.uk if you have any questions or queries.

Please can we ask that you join the group using a desktop computer, a laptop or a tablet if possible. We do apologise if you join a Zoom sharing session using a mobile phone you may not be able to see the other participants in the group.

Please note that these online events are run by bereaved parent volunteers. Our volunteers are not professionals and so what we offer is a uniquely warm, comforting and supportive online group organised and facilitated by parents who have also experienced the loss of a child and have found understanding and hope themselves through The Compassionate Friends.

Group numbers will be limited so do please book via this web page to secure your place. We can only take bookings online and if we are fully booked priority will be given to those parents who have not attended a Compassionate Friends online support group before. 

Please contact events@tcf.org.uk if you have any questions or queries.

Please note this group is for bereaved parents in the UK only – if you want to join from abroad please contact us on events@tcf.org.uk

N.B. If you are bereaved of an older child by suicide you can book for the group in July. Details will be on the website soon