Everyone is affected when a death or tragedy occurs within a school community. The loss of a student, parent or staff member within the school is a significant loss with great effects.

Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross identified five stages of grief people go through following a significant loss. These five stages include: denial and isolation, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.

Stages are not on a linear time line and not everyone goes through all of them or in a certain order or within a specific time.

www.hospicenet.org/html/teenager.html

kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/emotions/
someone_died.html

www.davidkessler.org/html/qa_

www.grief.com

Gootman , Marilyn E.: When a friend dies: A book for teens about grieving and healing

R.L. Deaton and W.A. Berkan: A Planning and management death issues in schools. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.

Children need extra support to help them deal with the feelings/emotions associated with loss in order to reach constructive grief resolution. Adults should observe teens for signs of stress, depression, or even suicidal thinking and seek professional help when necessary.

You can assist your teen through the grieving process by helping them:
1. Recognize that the loss has happened. 2. Seek and accept support. 3. Find others who have survived a similar loss. 4. Learn about the grieving process. 5. Express their grief. 6. Accept their feelings. 7. Pace themselves--grief takes energy. 8. Involve themselves in a meaningful activity. 9. Have fun--laughter is good medicine. 10. Have hope for the future.