Journal article
Supporting Adolescents Bereaved by Suicide or Other Traumatic Death: The Views of Counselors
K Andriessen, J Snir, K Krysinska, D Rickwood, J Pirkis
Omega United States | SAGE PUBLICATIONS INC | Published : 2026
Abstract
Adolescents bereaved by suicide and other traumatic death may experience strong grief reactions and increased risks of mental health problems and suicidal behaviour. As timely access to professional help can be critical, it is essential to understand how counselors perceive suicide bereavement in adolescents and how they work with this population. This study aimed to examine the perspectives of counselors (N = 34). Eleven participated in an individual semi-structured interview and 23 others in group interviews. Thematic analysis yielded three themes: (1) Building a relationship with the bereaved adolescent, (2) Offering support tailored to the needs of the grieving adolescent, and (3) Offeri..
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Awarded by National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Acknowledgements
We are most grateful to the participants for sharing their experiences, and to the organizations and individuals who helped with recruitment and/or hosted the focus groups, especially: The Compassionate Friends Victoria, Support After Suicide Jesuit Social Services, StandBy Support After Suicide, headspace National, Anglicare Suicide Prevention and Grief Support South Australia, Sabrina's Reach 4 Life, and Grief Australia.