31 Children, Teens and Suicide Loss (e.g., a coach, teacher, or counselor). You can simply ask, “Are you getting the support you need? If not, let’s talk about how I can help.” My teen doesn’t want to talk about the death at all, OR my teen only wants to talk about the death. What do I do? Everyone processes grief differently. For some teens it will be important to talk and share stories about the person who died. Others won’t want to verbalize what they’re feeling or experiencing. Some may choose to express their grief in other ways, such as writing or other creative arts, or through activities like playing sports, going for a hike, etc. You and your teen may well have different styles of grieving. You may want to talk about the death, whereas your teen may find that being alone is most helpful. Acknowledge that it is okay to choose different activities or ways to grieve, and be respectful and patient toward one another. How do I balance my teen’s desire for privacy about the death with the inevitability of people finding out? Many teens want and need privacy. They often don’t want others to know that a person in their life has died. Allow your teen to make the choice about what is shared and with whom; having discussions with them about that will provide you with an opportunity to learn about your teen’s concerns. Be aware that others may find out about the suicide death through rumors, social media, the news, etc. Prepare your teen for that possibility and discuss ways to handle it. How do I help my teen cope with the media/social media after a suicide death? Social media can be a strong source of support for teens who are grieving. It can also present negative, false, and unhelpful responses. Having a discussion about hurtful comments, and about ways to share information, will be useful to the teen. Parents should set appropriate