Bereavement

Abstract

Most families do not expect to bury a child. Adults expect to die before their children, certainly before their grandchildren. Yet every year parents face the enormous grief of having their child die and many young people experience the death of their sibling. This chapter discusses the impact of a child’s death on families, adults, and children, and describes interventions, based on theory, that may help bereaved families. Although unimaginable, most children and their families will cope with the death of a close family member, especially if they can express their feelings and thoughts, if the family can talk about what is happening and about their memories of the deceased, and if they have the opportunity to meet others who have been bereaved.