lesleywilliamswestlothiangovuk PSW conference 19 th September 2017 DATA LABEL PUBLIC Outline Factors affecting reactions to loss and grief Responses to grief Childrens understanding of ID: 912464
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Bereavement & Loss
Lesley Williams (Educational Psychologist)lesley.williams@westlothian.gov.ukPSW conference 19th September 2017
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Slide2Outline
Factors affecting reactions to loss and griefResponses to griefChildren’s understanding of deathWhat can I do?Time to look at resources / handout / discussion
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Slide3What types of loss or change might a young person experience?
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Slide5How many children face the challenge of bereavement?
A parent of children under 18 dies every 22 minutes in the UK: 111 children are bereaved of a parent every day: 80 every week in ScotlandAround 1 in 29 children aged 5-16 in the UK have been bereaved of a parent or siblingThis equates to 24,000 5-16 year olds in Scotland having been bereaved of a parent or sibling during childhood
In a sample of 11-16 year olds 78% said they had been bereaved of a close relative or friendCBN 2015
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Slide6Local Statistics
West LothianWe estimate that each year, around 80 parents die in this area, leaving around 140 dependent children (aged 0 to 17).We estimate that the current school-age population of children and young people (aged 5 to 16) in this area who have been bereaved of a parent or sibling at some point in their childhood is around
960.
http://www.childhoodbereavementnetwork.org.uk/research/local-statistics.aspx
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Slide8Responses to Grief
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Slide9Children’s understanding of death
Age 2-5Do not appreciate finality or permanence of deathMay be confused over euphemisms such as ‘gone away’ or ‘gone to sleep’May require repeated explanationsAge 5-8Realise dead people are different from those who are alive
Around age 7 accept that death is permanentBetter able to express thoughts and feelingsNeed to be given opportunity to ask questions
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Slide10Children’s understanding of death
Age 8-12Understanding almost matched that of an adultRealisation of inevitability of death and awareness of own mortalityNeed to know details and may ask specific questionsAdolescenceMay challenge beliefs and expectations of others as to how they should be feeling or behaving
Question meaning of lifeMay prefer to discuss with friends
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Slide11Think of a time when you have supported a young person dealing with change or
loss:What did you do? What worked?
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Slide12Supporting a bereaved pupil
Try not to judgeCheck out the factsAcknowledge what has happenedResponses will varyChildren and young people need honestyBe prepared to listenGive bereaved pupils time
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Slide13Things to consider
Time out cards – special cards giving the young person permission to leave the class when feeling overwhelmed, emotional. Support the young person to express their grief if appropriate.
Access to a quiet space for time out and reflection if required.More intensive support from pastoral care staff.
Access to a counsellor, if there is one, and/or local services as appropriate.
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Slide14As time passes…
be prepared to listen, again and again and againgive bereaved pupils time. It may be many months before they can fully cope with the pressures of school work. Remember that they will be grieving for life and the loss will always be with them.offer tailor made support if required, for example, Give us a Break! or by referring into a local service provider. be aware of important dates such as the anniversary of the death, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and so on.
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Slide15Supporting bereaved children and young people with ASD
MindblindnessInformation processingLanguage and communicationPreoccupationsImagination, time perception and memoryFinding your own way to grieve by Karla HelbertAutism and Loss
by Rachel Forrester-Jones and Sarah Broadhurst
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Slide16Making a memory box or book
Using books / workbooks
Family Record
Blob cards
Feeling cards
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Slide17Grief masks
Framing a photo
Jar of memories – salt / glitter
Creative writing – acrostic poem
Memorial in school
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