Helping a child or young person with their grief and mental health

Emma Rawle — Fri, 12 May 2023 11:41:53 +0000

Losing someone you love can be really tough, especially for children and young people. When someone they know dies, they might feel confused and overwhelmed by their emotions, and not know how to handle everything that’s going on. This can have a profound impact on their mental health. It’s vital that they receive the support and care that they need. Here are some ways you can support a child or young person with their grief and mental health when someone they know has died:

Listen and be there for them

It’s important to create a safe and supportive environment where children and young people can talk about their feelings without feeling judged or interrupted. Let them know that whatever they’re feeling is normal, whether it’s sadness, anger, confusion, or anything else. Just being there for them can be a big help.

Be honest and explain things clearly

Children and young people need to know what has happened and what to expect. Be honest and clear when talking about their loss. When talking about death and what’s happened, try to use language they can understand. Avoid using confusing or vague terms that may upset them further. Be prepared to answer their questions honestly, even if they’re tough ones.

Encourage them to express their grief

Everyone copes with grief differently. So encourage a child or young person to find healthy ways to express their emotions that feels comfortable to them. They might want to talk to you or another trusted adult, write in a journal, make art, or spend time in nature. Whatever works for them is okay.

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Provide routine and structure

Grief can make everything feel out of control and for children and young people it can feel as if though their world has been turned upside down. Providing a stable routine and structure can help them feel more secure and grounded. Try to keep mealtimes, bedtimes, and other daily activities consistent. This can help them feel like there’s some normalcy in their life during this difficult time.

Seek professional help if needed

If a child or young person is struggling with their mental health due to their grief, it may be necessary to seek professional help for them. This could include talking to a support worker or encouraging them to join a support group. Don’t hesitate to reach out for help if you feel that a child or young person is not coping well with their grief.

In the end, supporting a child or young person through grief and mental health challenges can be a difficult and emotional journey. But with patience, empathy, and support, you can help them navigate this challenging time, giving them hope for the future. Remember to prioritise their mental health and well-being, and don’t hesitate to seek help if you need it. If you are really concerned about the child or young person’s mental health or worried about their safety, we would advise seeking advice from a GP in the first instance.

Getting professional grief support from Winston’s Wish

Winston’s Wish is a charity that helps children, teenagers and young adults (up to the age of 25) find their feet when their worlds are turned upside down by grief. Through information, on-demand services, bereavement support and counselling, we support young people to understand their feelings, process their grief and find ways to move forward with hope for a brighter future. All of our support is available online, so we can support children and young people across the UK no matter where they live. We also help the adults who are caring for young grieving people including parents, school staff and healthcare professionals.

If you are supporting a child or young person who is struggling with their grief, please call our Freephone Helpline team on 08088 020 021 (8am -8pm, weekdays), email ask@staging.winstonswish.org or use our live chat (8am-8pm, weekdays). We are here to help and can provide advice, support, and resources.

Man up: The difficulties facing boys after the death of a father

Winston's Wish — Mon, 05 Feb 2018 10:13:52 +0000

This week marks Children’s Mental Health Week and this blog post, written by our team in the South East of England, looks at the impact the death of a father can have on boys, including the pressures from society. For more information about the areas we work in and where our offices are based, please visit the Contact Us page.

Here in the South East Team, we were asked to think about what we see to be the impact for boys who are bereaved of their fathers. We talked about what we have heard and seen while working with families in this situation. The themes that came up that were specific to boys seemed to reflect on wider societal opinions.

For example, men and boys being strong emotionally, not crying and needing to look after the family. Some of the boys that we see tell us that this is the way they feel, that they feel a pressure to protect family members. Sometimes they have been told by people that they are, ‘the man of the house now’.

It has also come up that it is seen as more acceptable to be angry rather than sad. Occasionally boys in the groups we run have compared stories of their angry behaviours. They have initially found that anger is easier even to talk about than sadness. Alongside this, they have expressed that they are more afraid to appear vulnerable in front of their peers.

Another theme was about more general practical things. Like boys and men do the DIY jobs, or watch and go to football together, rough and tumble play, learning about issues around puberty; all of this assigned to the male role.

In reality, all families are different. But we definitely hear that Dads are missed for all of these things and more. That there is a sense that a son, especially the eldest son should take on those roles that his father perhaps held.

It is really important that boys, just as it is with girls, are given the opportunity to express their grief in creative ways. Through play, art, talking and maybe meeting others who are in a similar situation. Bereavement impacts differently on every family and individual. But often the things that can help are the same.

For more information and for support, please call our Freephone National Helpline on 08088 020 021. You can also speak to other organisations about support for boys and young men, including CALM and Young Minds.

The post Man up: The difficulties facing boys after the death of a father appeared first on Winston's Wish.

mental health Archives | Winston's Wish

Helping a child or young person with their grief and mental health

Listen and be there for them

Be honest and explain things clearly

Encourage them to express their grief

Read more

Provide routine and structure

Seek professional help if needed

Getting professional grief support from Winston’s Wish

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Man up: The difficulties facing boys after the death of a father