Recent review by researchers at NIHMANS in Bengaluru, highlighted the profound and long-term impact of child and adolescent suicide on grieving parents and mental health professionals alike, and called for stronger, structured support systems.
The article entitled ‘The impact of child and adolescent suicide deaths on parents and mental health professionals: A systematic review and meta-synthesis’ was published in the journal of the British Psychological Society – Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice. It is based on an analysis of 25 studies that examine shared and distinct experiences of grief.
What the review found
Bino Thomas, another professor of psychiatric social work at NIMHANS, who is one of the authors, told The Hindu that losing a child to suicide leaves both families and doctors grappling with unanswered questions.
“After months of therapy, there’s always a relationship that mental health professionals build with children. When a child dies by suicide, it leaves us with questions – did we do enough, did we miss something, what went wrong,” he said.
He pointed out that such losses often bring emotional stress even for professionals. “There’s a belief that doctors don’t feel pain, but we do. We regulate our emotions, but grief is real,” he said, adding that in some cases, parents and therapists grieve together, which can help make sense of the loss.
Shared grief, different contexts
The study found that parents experience intense and prolonged grief marked by guilt, self-blame and a persistent search for answers. Many struggle with stigma and isolation, while their mental health vulnerabilities may increase over time.
At the same time, mental health professionals experience a parallel emotional burden. A client’s death can raise self-doubt, fear of guilt, and questions about professional competence. “Losing a client calls into question our core belief that we should be able to keep every child safe,” said Dr. Thomas.
The review also highlights that predicting suicide remains complex and uncertain, with clinicians often unable to predict outcomes despite careful assessment.
Gaps in support systems
The review highlights gaps in post-suicide support – for both parents and professionals. While some support mechanisms exist, they are often fragmented or short-lived.
“Support systems are available for professionals, but they need to be actively used – through colleagues, mentors and supervisors,” said Dr. Thomas. He emphasized that younger practitioners in particular must be encouraged to seek guidance rather than repress their distress. “Pushing away sadness doesn’t make it go away,” he said.
For families, the problem is more pressing. “Support often ends with the death of the child, but the grief and guilt continues. Many parents find it difficult to return to the same system for help,” he said.
The need for continuity of care
The researchers called for integrated trauma-informed approaches to ensure continuity of care for bereaved families, along with structured institutional support for professionals. They emphasized that parents should be involved as active participants in their child’s mental health care, with transparent communication about suicide risk, while postnatal support must be long-term, flexible and responsive to the evolving needs of families, rather than limited to immediate consequences.
At the same time, institutions need to create non-judgmental and reflective spaces for mental health professionals to process grief, strengthen systems of supervision and peer support – especially for junior practitioners – and establish clear protocols to support clinicians in the event of client suicide.
Dr. Thomas said NIMHANS has started family programs and support groups for parents across the country, with attendance varying from week to week. “We must continue to hold these parents’ hands even after the loss. Aftercare cannot be an afterthought – it is as important as prevention,” he added.
Published – 03 Apr 2026 18:58 IST
