Parental Suicide: An Organizing Event in the Development of Latency Age Children

Proposes that children who are vulnerable to parental suicide have not resolved earlier issues of separation-individuation. Case studies are presented of 5 6-12 year olds who were studied intensively. Conclusion: parental suicide has profound influences on ego development; the trauma of parental suicide is heightened when discussion between the parent and child about the death is interfered with; & parental suicide may stimulate child suicide impulses if the child identified with the parent.