Grieving For Our Child Who Experienced Mental Health Problem

One of a series of leaflets published by The Compassionate Friends Creating a memorial to our child can help us to honour their life, especially if we focus on the moments that we treasure. This could take the form of a book of words and photos, an online page with tributes, pictures and videos, or an event to which the people who were most important to our child can be invited. Some of us eventually find meaning and a new purpose by campaigning for greater understanding for people who suffer with poor mental health, or by getting involved with a relevant charity. If we have other children or full-time work, we might have precious little time to involve ourselves in such activities, but simply getting out of the home to somewhere green, perhaps a place that meant a lot to our child, can be very helpful. If we had our own mental health problems prior to our child’s death, these might be made worse by what has happened. Our GP is a good starting point for help and advice if we wish to access further support. Finding support We will soon discover which family members and close friends are able to provide help and support at this time. We may need to be prepared to lose some friends who are unable to cope with our situation, but we may also find that we make new friends. We are often surprised by people’s responses, and support can come from unexpected quarters. Being in conversation with people who understand because they have had similar experiences can be extremely helpful. Meeting other parents through The Compassionate Friends (TCF) can help give us strength to carry on; we will be able to talk freely to