Grief & Loss

The grief journey for an adolescent is different than that of a younger child or an adult.  The adolescent may find him or herself dealing with other unresolved issues, as well as triggers from previous experiences that cause a wide array of emotions to emerge.  Much of their grieving is concealed as they lack the vocabulary to express their feelings.  Adolescents tend to rely on their friends and less on their family for support.  For parents, this can be difficult as they want their child to communicate with them. 

It is important to remember that not everyone grieves in the same way. The Kübler-Ross model outlines five stages associated with grief. These stages are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.  People can move in-and-out of these stages, and may also return to a stage.  The length of time in each stage is different for everyone.  Events that occur years after a death can trigger emotions.  It is important to recognize these signs, and to know when to seek professional help. Understanding the grief process, signs to look for, and how to support your child is below.  

Please feel free to contact your child's school counselor if you have questions or need anything further: 

Mrs. Lisa Anderson A-K

[email protected] 

Mrs. Janice Bowman L-Z

[email protected]

Education/Support Groups

Olivia's House: http://www.oliviashouse.org/index.asp
Located in York, PA, Olivia's House is an organization committed to supporting grieving children. Its purpose is to facilitate healing through grief and loss education. No one experiences grief in the same way. Olivia's House offers no-cost educational programs. The programs provide support to parents, as well as a safe environment where families can share their experiences as they learn to cope with the death of a loved one.

Camp Mend A Heart: Call 717-391-2413 or 800-924-7610

This is a one-day family camp for children and teen ages 6-18 and adults who are coping with the death of a loved one.  It will be held on Saturday, August 8, 2015 at the Penn Grove Retreat Center in Hanover, PA.

Articles

 

Tips for Parents

 

Death & Grief:  Supporting Children and Youth

 

Ways to Take Care of Yourself at Times of Loss

 

Signs that a Child May Need Professional Help

 

Websites

 

Coalition to Support Grieving Studentshttp://grievingstudents.scholastic.com/ 

This website provides helpful information to help and support grieving children. It has wonderful information for parents on various aspects dealing with grief and loss.

 

The Dougy Center: http://www.dougy.org/

This website provides resources to support people of all ages. It includes helpful materials such as books, videos, and podcasts.