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Resources for Children & Teens After Murder-Suicide Loss
Children and teenagers experience grief differently than adults, especially after the trauma of a murder-suicide. They may struggle with confusing emotions, unanswered questions, changes in behavior, or difficulty expressing their feelings. MSL Network provides trusted resources to help young survivors, caregivers, educators, and mental health professionals support children and teens with compassion, understanding, and hope.
You are not alone. Besides us, here are some resources that can help.
How Children Grieve After Murder-Suicide
Grief varies by age and developmental stage, but you should figure out how you plan to talk to a child about murder-suicide loss, meet them where they are, be truthful, and help them feel safe.
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​The Georgia Commission on Family Violence has the following handout:
Helping Teens Navigate Traumatic Loss
Teens need patience, predictability, and emotional validation.
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The National Child Traumatic Stress Network has the following handout:
Resources for Parents and Caregivers
Adults can support children and recognize when extra help may be needed.
If you are a caregiver for an adolescent survivor of murder-suicide, visit Psychology Today's Find a Therapist tool to get professional support - or join our Online Support Group to receive peer-to-peer support.
When Professional Support May Help
Visit Psychology Today's Find a Therapist tool.
Trauma-informed counseling can:
- Reduced PTSD symptoms
- Help you develop practical coping and emotional regulation skills
- Restore personal empowerment
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Trauma-informed counseling centers on core principles:
- Safe environment for your physical, emotional, and psychological safety
- Collaboration and choice over the type of treatment approach
- Symptom reframing as survival rather than personal
Support Groups and Community
There are no known support groups for children under the age of 18 that are tailored to murder-suicide loss.
If you are a caregiver to a child, you can join our Online Support Group to hear what has worked for group members and their children.
Support Organizations & Programs
Alabama
National Child Traumatic Stress Network
Arizona
Tu Nidito Children & Family Services (Tucson): Grief support groups and trauma counseling for children after death or serious illness en.wikipedia.org
Camp Erin Arizona (Tucson): Bereavement camp for children aged 6–17, trained peer support, arts & activities. Run through hospices.
Youth & Family Grief Support Programs via Banner Health (Phoenix region): Professional trauma‑informed groups and individual counseling.
Arizona
New Song Hospice for the Valley Center for Grief and Healing in Anchorage – child/teen support.
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Arkansas
Arkansas Hospice – children’s bereavement groups.
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California
The Elizabeth Hospice Children's Bereavement Center (San Diego): free peer groups & Camp Spero
Colerado
Judi’s House (Denver Metro): Peer-led support groups, therapeutic art activities for ages 3–18
Camp Erin Colorado: Weekend bereavement camp facilitated by trained staff; sibling and parental programming.
Connecticut
The Cove: At The Cove Center for Grieving Children, their mission is to provide hope and healing for grieving children, teens and their families, as well as training for the professionals who work with them. They provide family and school-based programs utilizing the peer support group concept for helping children, teens and families work through their unresolved grief due to the death of someone significant in their lives.
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Delaware
National Child Traumatic Stress Network
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Florida
Dougy Center available via multiple FL centers
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Georgia
Dougy Center available via multiple GA centers
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Hawaii
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Idaho
Camp Erin Idaho (Kootenai County Hospice): Peer‑support bereavement camp.
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Illinois
Comfort Zone Camp (NJ model) also in IL—suicide bereavement
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Indiana
Local Compassionate Friends or AFSP groups.
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Iowa
Livin Foundation youth suicide grief support (Minnesota-based but regional)
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Kansas
Camp Erin locations via local hospices (e.g., Topeka/Sunflower Hospice)
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Kentucky
Camp Erin locations via local hospices
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Louisiana
Camp Erin (New Orleans area)
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Maine
Camp Kita, Comfort Zone NJ group, and state hospice child grief services
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Maryland
Camp Erin (Baltimore area)
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Massachusetts
The Garden: The Garden provides support to grieving young people ages 5-18, and their families following the death of someone close, including parents, siblings, other family members, or friends. We have an on-site and virtual program for the whole family and support area schools with our outreach program. There are no limits on how, where, or when the death occurred.
The Children’s Room (south-eastern MA): Peer‑support groups and family nights for kids 3–18 after bereavement en.wikipedia.orgen.wikipedia.org+2magriefcenter.org+2rainbows.org+2
Care Dimensions (formerly Hospice of the South Shore): Grief counseling and workshops, including child‑focused groups magriefcenter.org
Good Grief Program: The Good Grief Program at Boston Medical Center provides therapeutic support to pediatric patients of BMC who have experienced an important loss such as the death of a significant person, divorce, or separation from a primary caregiver. After a loss, children need the support of caring adults to help them make sense of their loss, to support their grief, and to strengthen their strategies to cope. The Good Grief Program offers a steadying and supportive force for children who are grieving as they respond to their loss or losses.
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Michigan
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Minnesota
Livin Foundation camps for youth suicide survivors
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Mississippi
Missouri
Camp Erin (St. Louis, Kansas City)
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Montana
Local hospice child grief services
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Nebraska
Camp Erin (Omaha).
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Nevada
Camp Erin (Las Vegas/Reno)
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New Hampshire
Camp Erin (Portsmouth)
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New Jersey
Comfort Zone Camp for suicide loss
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New Mexico
Camp Erin via hospices
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New York
Multiple Camp Erin sites
The Dougy Center affiliate in Rochester
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North Carolina
Camp Erin (Charlotte/SR area)
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North Dakota
Local hospice grief groups
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Ohio
Camp Erin (Cleveland, Columbus).
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Oklahoma
Camp Erin (Tulsa/Oklahoma City)
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Oregon
The Dougy Center (Portland) serving children after any death
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Pennsylvania
Camp Erin (Pittsburgh/Philadelphia).
Rhode Island
Rhode Island Grief & Trauma Specialty Team at Gateway & Bradley Hospital: Peer community support groups for children grieving traumatic losses ourmidland.combrownhealth.org
Friends Way: A nonprofit grief center focused on peer‑support groups for youth after sudden loss centerffs.org+15brownhealth.org+15magriefcenter.org+15
Camp Erin Rhode Island: Bereavement camp via local hospice affiliated
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South Carolina
Camp Erin (Columbia/Charleston)
South Dakota
Hospice child grief groups
Tennessee
Camp Erin (Nashville)
Texas
Bo’s Place (Houston): Free grief support groups in English/Spanish for children ages 3–18 who’ve lost a family member; trauma-trained facilitators
Lucine Center for Trauma & Grief (Dallas/Fort Worth): Free tele‑therapy and in‑person groups for children/adolescents after traumatic loss childrenscollaborative.us
Camp Erin Texas (multiple metro areas): Regional bereavement camping for youth survivors
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Utah
Camp Erin (Salt Lake City)
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Vermont
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Virginia
Camp Erin (Fredericksburg, Richmond)
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Washington
The Dougy Center exists in WA
Camp Erin in Seattle
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West Virginia
Hospice child grief support
Camp Erin via hospices
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Wisconsin
Camp Erin (Milwaukee, Madison)
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Wyoming
Local hospice grief groups
Print Resources
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Speaking of Love: A Suicide Loss Survivor's Guide of Hope, Healing, And Love - La Toya Bond
The Next Place – Warren Hanson
Where’s Jess? – A Centering Corp Resource
Lifetimes: The Beautiful Way to Explain Death to Children – Bryan Mallonie and Robert Ingpen
Water Bugs and Dragonflies: Explaining Death to Young Children – Doris Stickney
Video Resources
Audio Resources