Explaining suicide to 7 yo

[Alabama345]

My brother killed himself 2 wks ago in the US. I am finally back home from funeral, etc and can take a breath but wondering how much I should explain to DD.

She knows he's dead but now the how. She's not asking questions at the moment as she had to spend week with auntie and she's just relieved we're back together (as am I!).

I have been advised to tell her the truth and I am being a coward about broaching subject. Especially the way he did it. Help, what do I do? How long can I leave it?

I am so sorry for your loss. I agree that it's best to tell your DD the truth in an age appropriate way. My sister killed herself when my nephew was 10. My brother and sister in law just told him that she had died suddenly and the doctors didn't know why. He was also staying with relatives at the time of the funeral, but overheard conversations and knew a lot more than his parents realised. He felt he couldn't ask questions, because he didn't want to upset his parents.
Have a look at Winston's Wish website- they are a charity with very good resources to help parents talk with children about suicide. I had a book from them called Beyond the Rough Rock which I used with my DD.
The group Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide may be helpful to you too.

Hello, I don't have any advice I'm afraid but didn't want to leave this question unanswered. Hopefully someone will come along soon with som advice. I'm really sorry to hear about your loss. I remember when I was around 8 or 9 finding out my grandfather's nephew had hung himself. I didn't affect me too badly. I don't think I entirely understood but it still stays with me and not at all in a bad way. I'm sorry you're going through this.

I was just discussing a similar thing with a friend tonight.

When I was 19, my grandmother committed suicide. She was in the UK and I was in Australia at the time. My mother never discussed it with me but I knew from overhearing telephone conversations and she went over for the funeral. She only spoke about it several years later when I was moving to the UK in case relative brought the subject up. I still don't know 20 years later how she did it, not that it makes any difference now.

I will say that if you do discuss it to emphasize that they were in no way at fault. I did think, even at 19, that if I had written a few more letters she wouldn't have taken her own life. Of course now I can see that my actions have no influence on her taking her own life.

All the best.

Thank so much for all your replies and good wishes. And for steering me to Winston's Wish, that was really helpful GRW - I'll give them a call.