Grief of children and adolescents

This monograph presents fundamental knowledge about grief in children and adolescents. The experience of loss is a universal human experience, yet it is a rather repressed topic in contemporary society. Children and adolescents experience a whole range of losses, such as the loss of a loved one, a parent or a sibling. The natural reaction to any loss is sadness and grief, which have a number of impacts on the mental and physical health of children, on their emotional experience and on their relationships with others.

The book describes the manifestations of grief in children and adolescents, the determinants of grief and risk factors, and comments on common myths about their grieving process. Special attention is paid to the possibilities of supporting adaptive grieving in children and adolescents, both by parents and by professionals in the helping professions. The publication presents the results of original research focused on parents' own experiences with their children's grief after the death of a sibling.

This publication is intended for parents and relatives of children who have experienced a serious loss, as well as for professionals in the helping professions, psychologists, educators, bereavement counsellors, and for professionals in other professions who are involved in the health and social care of children and adolescents.