Bridge Over the River Why - A Guide for Those Who Have Suffered the Loss of a Child to Suicide

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by Stanley

A grief support guide offering step-by-step guidance for those who have suffered the loss of a child to suicide. It addresses coping with numbness and anger, learning how to talk about the loss, honoring memories, and preparing for real-life changes. The guide includes practical suggestions such as starting a journal, re-evaluating relationships, seeking professional support, creating memorial gatherings, and joining bereavement groups and online forums, emphasizing that readers are not alone.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages76

Reading Time3 h 12 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

The Hawk

Inexplicable4

Why

Where to start

The School of Mourning

Take one day at a time

Teach friends and family

Accept hugs

Family members do not grieve together

How are you?

Talk about it

Feeling Numb

Deal with anger

Talk about your child

Start a journal

Value silence

Re-evaluate relationships

No to closure

Throw out the timetable

Pray and meditate

You are not alone

Cultivate your memories

Music brings comfort

Preparing ahead

Seek a professional

Create a memorial gathering

Back to routine

Join a bereavement group

Explore online forums

Create lasting memories

Managing the Realities of a Changing Life

Acknowledgements

Bibliography

Support and Advocacy Organizations

Eli's Place

About the Coopers

Bridge A GUIDE ○ver FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SUFFERED The THE LOSS OF A CHILD TO SUICIDE River DAVID AND DEBORAH COOPER Why Digitized by the Internet Archivein 2022 with funding fromKahle/Austin Foundation BridgeOverThe RiverWhy A GUIDE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SUFFEREDTHE LOSS OF A CHILD TO SUICIDE FriesenPress Suite 300-990 Fort StVictoria,BC,V8V 3K2Canada www.friesenpress.com Copyright ◎2018 by David and Deborah CooperFirst Edition-2018 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form,or by anymeans,electronic or mechanical,including photocopying,recording,or anyinformation browsing,storage,or retrieval system,without permission inwriting from FriesenPress. 100%of proceeds will be directed to Eli's Place ISBN 978-1-5255-2239-0(Hardcover) 978-1-5255-2240-6(Paperback) 978-1-5255-2241-3(eBook) 1.Family&Relationships,Death,Grief,Bereavement Distributed to the trade by The Ingram Book Company # TA BLE OF CONTENTS IntroductionixThe HawkInexplicable4WHY6Where to start8The School of Mourning11Take one day at a time12Teach friends and family13Accept hugs14Family members do not grieve together15How are you?18Talk about it19Feeling Numb22Deal with anger24Talk about your child27Start a journal28Value silence29Re-evaluate relationships30No to closure31Throw out the timetable33Pray and meditate35You are not alone36Cultivate your memories37Music brings comfort38 工 Preparing ahead39Seek a professional41Create a memorial gathering42Back to routine43Join a bereavement group45Explore online forums46Create lasting memories47Managing the Realities of a Changing Life49Acknowledgements54Bibliography56Support and Advocacy Organizations57Eli's Place58About the Coopers59 This guide is dedicated to the memory of our son,Eli Nathan Cooper to all those facing the bridge overthe River Why;and to those who help them cross it. “I saw the hawk today!Oh,the majesty of its sighting!Ibreathe deeply as it turns and banks and feel the very essenceof the bird infuse my soul!It speaks to me of spirits soaring.I feel your essence,too,my son.I see your face,all smiles andjubilation!Do you look down on universes unimagined?Where DO you soar?Oh,I can only guess about the magicmysteries you view,and all the vast expansions of your learn-ing since you slipped the bonds of earth to be forever free!Soar,bird soar into the blue and through my very heart!Youare such a gift I love to see,and manufacture pure delight'for me!” —Beverly F.Walker

FAQs

How does the guide suggest starting after a child’s suicide loss?

It encourages readers to begin with where to start and take one day at a time. It also provides ways to talk about the loss and manage difficult emotions like numbness and anger.

What practical tools does the guide recommend for coping?

The guide suggests starting a journal, valuing silence, cultivating memories, and using music for comfort. It also advises re-evaluating relationships and avoiding a rigid timetable for grief.

What support options are included for ongoing bereavement?

It recommends seeking professional help, creating memorial gatherings, and joining bereavement groups. It also suggests exploring online forums and support and advocacy organizations, including Eli's Place.

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by Stanley