Efficacy of Therapeutic Letters for Grieving Peers After Teen Suicide

Adolescents grieving the loss of a peer to suicide experience a significant decline in their quality of life. Among the various approaches undertaken to facilitate emotional processing and resilience in these adolescents, therapeutic letter writing has emerged as a promising avenue. This literature review seeks to examine the efficacy of therapeutic letters as an intervention for grief following teen suicide. Specifically, this review examines the impact of this method on emotional processing, meaning-making, and long-term adjustment to the loss. The review also considers the potential challenges and ethical concerns associated with implementing therapeutic letters, including issues of confidentiality and the cognitive capacities of adolescents. In conclusion, this literature review highlights the significant promise and complex nuances of using therapeutic letters for adolescence grief counseling. As clinicians strive to offer more comprehensive and compassionate care to adolescents dealing with loss due to teen suicide, therapeutic letters can assist them in doing so.