HealthInfo Canterbury
Helping your teenager grieve
Grief is a natural and normal human response to losing something or someone important. It might be the loss of someone they love, the death of a pet or the break-up of an important relationship or friendship. It is a very individual process, and how one person grieves differ from others. There is no set time or way to do it.
Grieving and healing take as long as they take. For some people that could be weeks, for some, months and others longer still.
Grief may be particularly difficult for a teenager who may already be going through major emotional and physical changes as a result of puberty. Things you can do to help and support them may include things such as:
- maintaining routines as much as possible
- encouraging them to maintain their friendships and relationships
- being honest with them and answering any questions they may have
- acknowledging their emotions
- being present and ready and willing to listen. Allow them to talk to you if they want to. Don’t force a conversation. Get help if needed.
If you are concerned that your young person is taking a long time to start feeling better or their grief is overwhelming, it's a good idea to talk with them about contacting their doctor. Reassure them that talking to their doctor is confidential.
The pages below include lots of practical advice on ways you can help.
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
- Mental Health Foundation – Grief and loss
General information about grief, including how to support someone who is grieving,
- ReachOut – Loss and grief
ReachOut is an Australian online mental health resource for teenagers and young people. It has specially targeted information and practical tools to help young people. It includes a page of strategies for coping with grief.
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed January 2021.
Sources
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Review key: HIGYT-53204
