Episode 52
Orlagh and Sara - How do you explain suicide to a curious child?
"How was a nine-year-old supposed to feel? I didn't know what to say or think. I was emotionless at the time...everyone around me crumbled down in sadness, crying, deafening wailing, some pacing the floor, leaving the room. I thought I had to be like them. Am I supposed to cry? I'm not sure how long it took, but when it sunk in, I felt sad. Really, really sad. My mind couldn't understand what had happened to Callum, but I knew I'd never ever see him again"
Key takeaways:
- Knowing what to say and when about suicide to young people is incredibly challenging but hearing this story show's a mum's trust in her daughter's ability to hear the truth was well founded.
- Hearing the truth was extremely valuable for Orlagh, she's certain if she didn't hear it from her mum then she would have heard it through other means which may have been much more troubling.
Although Orlagh was only 9 when she lost her older cousin, Callum, to suicide, the impact of his death and particularly her trying to understand how his death came about and why, has rippled through her life.
In this tender and thought-provoking conversation Orlagh (now 16) and her mum Sara talk incredibly honestly about the devastating impact suicide has had on the family but also how they have managed to gently navigate the challenges of discussing Callum's death with truth and clarity.
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Speaking of Suicide is produced and presented by Adventurous Audio
