Children and young people will experience all kinds of losses throughout their life, from losing a tooth, loss of childhood through puberty, social loss of friendship groups, the death of a pet, to the death of a grandparent, parent, sibling, carer or peer group friend.
The death of a parent or other significant person, and loss of attachment, can be a threat to a child’s whole life and it is important they know that life will continue in some way.
Children experience a range of emotions and express their grief in different ways. An adolescent’s grief may be more hidden and could take time to surface or be displayed by anger.
What can I do to help?
- Be led by the child or young person
- Put yourself in the shoes of the bereaved, listen without judgement and consider that their behaviour may be a way of them communicating their current emotions.
- Let them know that it is fine to feel angry, to cry, to sob or to be silent as grief takes many forms, that all of these emotions are normal in grief, that grief continues after the funeral and that we all have different reactions when someone that we know dies.
- Help the person to manage their emotions and feelings so that they do not feel overwhelmed. Support them to express their emotions in manageable ways.
- Take care of yourself – notice your own emotions and seek support if you feel overwhelmed yourself.
Support available in Dudley borough
Dudley Council bereavement information and support
Mary Stevens Hospice Patient and Family Support Team offer information, signposting and support. Advice line number: 01384 445417. Email:PAFSS@marystevenshospice.co.uk
Dudley Public Health – CYPTeam@dudley.gov.uk
Further advice and support
Children’s Understanding of Death at Different Ages
How Children & Young People Grieve
What Helps Grieving Children and Young People
Supporting Bereaved Children Under 5 Years of Age
When Someone Special Dies Leaflet – For Children Under 7
When Someone Special Dies Leaflet – For Children 7-11 Years Old
When Someone Special Dies Leaflet – For Young People
Supporting Bereaved Children and Young People with Additional Needs Through Grief
Supporting Bereaved Children and Young People with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Information for Schools only
- Schools are encouraged to help children build resilience in bereaved children
- Child Bereavement UK provide free access online resources to help schools support a bereaved pupil
- Winstons Wish provide support for school professionals that are supporting a bereaved pupil
- Your existing Educational Psychology and Counselling service provider can also support with bereavement and loss. Dudley Educational Psychology and Counselling can be contacted on eps@dudley.gov.uk or cs@dudley.gov.uk
- Information, guidance and support with Miscarriage, stillbirth and neonatal death