The Suicide of My Son: The Story of Childhood Depression

Rating:
Summary: If you're only going to read one book.....
Review: As the mother of a teen suicide myself, I highly recommend this book. For those of you who are grieving from the same tragedy, it will answer many of your "Why" questions. And for those who have loved ones suffering from depression or bipolar disorder, you will learn how you may prevent their suicide. All depressed and bipolar people are at high risk for suicide. Trudy eloquently describes how triggers may prompt a suicide but mental illness causes it. She also describes quite accurately many of the confusing behaviors these individuals display: anger from limit-setting, logical leaps that are hard to follow, and a jovial attitude when experiencing deep pain. She did a marvelous job in her discussion of the relationship between loss and depression. This book also includes a detailed section on medications that I've seen in no other book like it. A must read!

Rating:
Summary: Could your life ever be the same?
Review: If you've ever experienced the loss of a loved one by suicide, you probably have wondered. Carlson's book is helpful in so many ways, but especially in helping life get back on track. Having lost her son to suicide, Trudy Carlson picks up the pieces of her family life and moves ahead in the best way she can, and becomes an inspiration to others along the way. Though every family is unique and each story different, the death of a child is perhaps one situation with common threads: grief, pain, guilt, hopelessness. Carlson shows us how to deal with these, suggests options that could help (and which the reader may not have been prepared to consider) and shows by example that while life after a suicide is not the same, the difference it brings about is not necessarily bad. I've read this book a few times and now have given copies to friends. It amazes me that you can mention "suicide" in a group of people, and suddenly everyone has a story about it. I found this book comforting, uplifting, and helpful. You know Ben Carlson. You know Trudy Carlson. They are us.

Rating:
Summary: There's more to Bipolar Disorder than Suicide
Review: The book is good, but Carlson kept losing me when the story of her son turns into a textbook for teachers. It does, however, have some strong points for anyone who has ever lost someone to suicide. A "Good" Book.....

Rating:
Summary: Okay reading for suicide survivors
Review: The book is good, but Carlson kept losing me when the story of her son turns into a textbook for teachers. It does, however, have some strong points for anyone who has ever lost someone to suicide. A "Good" Book.....

Rating:
Summary: There's more to Bipolar Disorder than Suicide
Review: This is a touching story, but suicide isn't the only aspect of Childhood-Onset Bipolar Disorder. This gives some good information, but isn't that well written. There's a new book that has a lot of practical information in a very usable format that addresses the daily challenges of Bipolar Disorder, not just the suicidal tendencies, much better. It's called "If Your Child is Bipolar."

Rating:
Summary: How adults can recognize suicidal symptoms in children
Review: Through the moving story of one victim's life, the author illustrates how caring adults can recognize the symptoms that threaten a child's life.

Rating:
Summary: Could your life ever be the same?
Review: When the teachers can't figure out what's wrong and it keeps on and on in a downward spiral, maybe they are overlooking something. Carlson's book keys in on what can be considered as a "perfect recipe" for suicide. Teachers need to be aware that there is more out there that bad grades or bad behavior. Trudy Carlson compels one to dig deeper and to gain a clear understanding of what children with multiple disabilities suffer on a daily basis, clearly bringing to light that "at risk students" are a special population that needs to be taken seriously and respected before they are lost, lost forever.

Rating:
Summary: A "must read" for teachers!
Review: When the teachers can't figure out what's wrong and it keeps on and on in a downward spiral, maybe they are overlooking something. Carlson's book keys in on what can be considered as a "perfect recipe" for suicide. Teachers need to be aware that there is more out there that bad grades or bad behavior. Trudy Carlson compels one to dig deeper and to gain a clear understanding of what children with multiple disabilities suffer on a daily basis, clearly bringing to light that "at risk students" are a special population that needs to be taken seriously and respected before they are lost, lost forever.