Teens Coping with Death

Whether your teen loses a loved one after a long illness or suddenly in a tragic accident, death can leave teens struggling to find answers. Your teen may feel guilty about what she did or did not do for a lost loved one, and she may withdraw from other aspects of her life. Though grief is necessary to move on from a loss, parents can do plenty to provide comfort throughout the process.

  1. Talking to Your Teen

    • Getting your teen back into his usual routine as soon as possible is important for his recovery, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Make it clear that your teen can approach you to talk, or that you can find someone for him to talk to if he needs to express his grief, according to KidsHealth. If your teen does not wish to talk, respect his wishes and give him space to grieve. Spending time with your son may provide a much-needed distraction while he deals with his grief.

    Helping Your Teen Through Grief

    • Your teen may initially feel numb before she spends days crying, or she may show no outward reaction to death at all, according to the Center for Young Women's Health. The experience of grief can vary from person to person. Parents should encourage teens to spend time with family and friends, though spending a little time alone is necessary too. Encouraging healthy habits during this time, like making sure your teen gets healthy meals and plenty of exercise and sleep, can go a long way, according to the Mayo Clinic. You may also encourage your teen to reach out to his faith community for support.

    Mourning

    • Parents may mistakenly believe that it is best to avoid mentioning the deceased, but in reality, talking about that person and the person's death may be helpful, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. In addition to attending any funerals or memorials in honor of the deceased, your teen may draw comfort from remembering a loved one in other ways. Partaking in activities to honor a loved one, like creating a picture collage or writing a eulogy or obituary, may provide comfort, according to PBS Kids. If your teen does not want to attend a funeral, it is important to respect his wishes as he grieves in his own way.

    Additional Information

    • Grief may become so pronounced that it impacts other areas of your teen's life, and she may miss school or work in addition to withdrawing from family and friends, according to the Mayo Clinic. If you suspect that your daughter is depressed, or if she begins talking of death or hurting herself, contact her doctor for help immediately. A trained mental health professional may also be able to help your teen with her grief.

    2. Previous:

    Next:

    • What Are the Effects of Stress on Teens and How Does It Interfere With Grades?
      Stress isnt always a bad thing. Teens, like everyone else, need a bit of stress to help keep them on their toes, motivate them to achieve good grades and meet other types of challenges. But too much stress can cause the opposite effect, resulting in
    • How to Help Christian Teens Grieve
      Teenagers realize that no one lives forever, but they don’t usually expect people they know and love to die. Religion offers some comfort for grieving teens and it may help them make sense of their losses, but it doesn’t take away the pai
    • How to Help Teens When a Grandparent Dies
      Its not something people want to think about, but eventually, the older people in our lives are going to die. As parents its important to take steps to help your children cope when the time comes. When your teen loses a grandparent -- and you lose a