Knowing what to tell children and how to best support them after a suicide loss is a struggle for many parents, caregivers, and professionals. As a result, children are often provided limited information, while the adults in their lives attempt to provide encouragement and shield them from the difficult realities associated with a suicide death.

This presentation will explore five things kids bereaved by suicide say they need from the adults in their lives to better support them. We also will discuss talking to kids about suicide and how child and teen grief after a suicide loss differs from other types of losses.

Presenters

• Andy McNeil, MA
• Carla Stumpf Patton, EDD, LMHC, NCC, FT, CCTP

Continuing Education Information

Continuing education credit is not available for this program.

Viewing Instructions

Viewing instructions will be included in your confirmation email and they will also be emailed to you several times in the days leading up to the webinar.

Questions?

Contact the TAPS Institute via email at Institute@taps.org or call 800-959-8277.

Presented by Boeing

Meet the Presenters

Andy McNiel, MA, is the Senior Advisor of Youth Programs for the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS). Andy is an author and trainer on topics related to grief, bereavement, and end of life. He has been an advocate for healthy children, teenagers, and families throughout his career. He is a co-founder and an executive partner with The Satori Group, LLC, a national education, management, and consulting company focused in the area of grief and loss. He is the former CEO of The National Alliance for Grieving Children, Executive Director of The Amelia Center at Children’s of Alabama, and Director of Counseling Services for Hospice of Martin and St. Lucie (now Treasure Health) in South Florida. He is a trainer for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and Boys and Girls Clubs of America. He is the co-author of Supporting and Understanding Bereaved Children: A Practical Guide for Professionals.

Carla Stumpf Patton, EDD, LMHC, NCC, FT, CCTP, is the Senior Director, Suicide Postvention & Prevention for the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors. She has been with TAPS since 2008 and oversees programs and services provided to those impacted by suicide loss. She is the surviving spouse of Sgt. Richard Stumpf, an Active Duty Marine Corps Drill Instructor and Gulf War combat Veteran who died by suicide in 1994, several days before their only child was born. She is trained in Crisis Response Planning, Psychological Autopsy Investigations, and certified as an ASIST trainer in suicide first aid. Carla is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, National Certified Counselor, Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, and Certified Fellow of Thanatology. She holds a bachelor’s in psychology, a master’s in professional mental health counseling, and a doctorate of education in counseling psychology for which she completed her dissertation research on military families bereaved by suicide. She is remarried to a retired U.S. Marine, also a suicide survivor widower, with whom she shares five children .