Bereavement

Until recently, it was thought that children didn’t grieve.  We now know that children do grieve for a significant loss in their lives, experiencing similar feelings to bereaved adults such as shock, denial, confusion, anger, anxiety and guilt.

Children may not show their feelings openly, leading you to believe that they aren’t affected by the loss. Common behaviour changes in children include becoming withdrawn, bed-wetting, lack of concentration, clinging, bullying, telling lies and being aggressive, all of which may indicate their upset state. Teenagers may suffer from headaches, mood swings, depression, sleep difficulties and eating disturbances.

If you have concerns that a young person you care about is struggling coping with the death of a loved one talk to them. If you need further help speak to your GP or see the related link below.