I'm concerned about my niece. Her mother committed suicide and she is blaming herself. How can I help her to deal with her mother's death? – Lita Talking with your niece and encouraging her to share her feelings can be a big help. Let her know that it's not her fault, and that many children of parents who commit suicide feel the way she does. While it's natural to feel guilty and to wonder if there's anything that could have been said or done to prevent it, her mother's suicide wasn't the result of anything your niece did. It's also natural to feel some anger at what happened — and even some embarrassment. Dealing with a parent's death is difficult for anyone. Your niece needs your understanding and support. If possible, she should talk with a mental health professional, such as a psychologist who is experienced at working with young people. Group therapy can be helpful since your niece will meet others in a similar situation to hers, which can make her feel less isolated. It's also sometimes easier to listen to advice from other people who have been through the same experience. Your niece's doctor can help her find someone appropriate to talk to. Back to Articles Related Articles 5 Ways to Cope When a Loved One Dies We all face grief at some point. Here are 5 ideas that might help you cope when someone you love has died. Read More Kids Talk About Death Kids talk about what it feels like to lose a loved one, and how they handle their grief and help others. Read More Kids Talk About: Death (Video) It's a deep sadness when someone you love dies. Hear what real kids had to say. Read More Somebody in My Friend's Family Died. What Should I Do? Someone important to your friend has died. What do you do? Read More Helping Your Child Deal With Death Helping kids cope with the death of a loved one can be hard, particularly as you work through your own grief. Here are some tips. Read More Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Kids and teens who live through a traumatic event can develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Healing is possible with the help of professional counseling and support from loved ones. Read More Death and Grief If someone close to you has died, you probably feel overwhelmed with grief. Read about some things that might help you cope. Read More Going to a Therapist Getting help with emotions or stress is the same as getting help with a medical problem like asthma or diabetes. This article explains how therapy works and how it can help with problems. Read More How Can I Cope With My Dad's Death? Find out what the experts have to say. Read More How Can I Help My Child Cope With a Friend's Death? Find out what the experts have to say. Read More When Somebody Dies It's difficult, even for grownups, to understand why death must happen. It may be the hardest thing of all to understand. We'll try to help you understand a little bit more in this article for kids. Read More Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2021 KidsHealth®. All rights reserved. Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.