SUPPORT FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
A parent of children under 18 dies every 22 minutes in the UK; around 23,600 a year. This equates to around 111 children being bereaved of a parent every day.
Why does grief in childhood matter?
Unresolved grief experienced can affect:
Mental & Emotional health
Following a death in the family, children and young people often experience anxiety and are at increased risk of mental health problems and suicide attempts. Research tells us that when a parent dies the child is likely to experience more physical health problems, accidents and serious illness than their peers and are more likely to take risks with their health.
These factors can affect the person’s ability to work and can also lead to substance misuse and other self-harming behaviours, including law breaking.
Learning and attainment
Evidence is building about the ‘late effect’ of childhood bereavement with differences between them and their peers becoming more apparent years after the death than in the early months.
Signs of Grief
How do children/young people show grief ?
Often things that happen within school go unnoticed because they are considered disruptive or abnormal behaviour when they are actually signs of grief:
- Tears
- Deterioration in schoolwork
- Unwanted behaviours
- Angry outbursts, fighting, regressive behaviours
- Illness, pains and eating difficulties
- Tiredness (often due to sleeping difficulties)
- Emotional issues – feeling alone, not making friends
- Worrying about death
Health Professionals
We can provide support and advice to professionals who are working with bereaved young people and their families.
For further information and advice please Contact Us or call 07444 201197
As a Health Professional you can refer your patient directly into Stand-by-me for assessment here.
Unfortunately, we cannot accept referrals from organisations outside of North Herts & Stevenage.
Training
We often receive requests from professionals for training to help them support bereaved children and young people they work with. Although we don’t routinely offer training courses, if you have a particular request, please contact us to see how we may be able to help.
Any training courses or workshops we have available will be advertised below. Please get in touch to find out more.
Bereavement Training for Secondary Schools – Now Booking for Spring 2025
Find Out MoreBereavement Training for Primary Schools – Now Booking for Spring 2025
Find Out MoreBereavement Training for Early Years Staff
Find Out MoreUseful Resources
Shout
Shout is the UK’s first and only free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging service for anyone who is struggling to cope. To start a conversation, text the…
Sibling Support
Sibling Support helps young people whose brother or sister – a sibling – has died. The site is also filled with help for parents, professionals. Sibling Support
Bereavement Support Resources in Other Languages
Child Bereavement UK have produced a number of bereavement support resources translated into; Arabic, Danish, Farsi, Spanish, Swedish, Tigrinya and Ukrainian. The National Bereavement Alliance’s Grief…
Spencer & Daisy open up about the death of a sibling
Made in Chelsea’s Spencer Matthews speaks with Daisy from Stand-by-me about their journeys following the death of a sibling. The podcast, created by Global’s Make Some…
Sandbox
The Sandbox is an NHS-funded service to support children and young people in Hertfordshire and South Staffordshire with their mental health and well-being. Sandbox
How gaming helps Hugo remember his dad
Children in need asked Hugo to help them spread the word on how gaming can have a positive effect. Hugo (14) was just 12 when he…
Childhood Bereavement Network
The CBN is the hub for those working with bereaved children, young people and their families across the UK. Offering essential support and representation to children…
YoungMinds Parents’ Helpline
The Parents Helpline is available to offer advice to parents and carers worried about a child or young person under 25. You may have questions about…
Mind
Provides advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. Campaigning to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding. Mind Website
Winston’s Wish
Supporting bereaved children and providing specialist child bereavement support services across the UK, including in-depth therapeutic help in individual, group and residential settings. Winston’s Wish Website
Grief Encounter
Free support to bereaved children and their families to help alleviate the pain caused by the death of someone close. Grief Encounter Website
Cruse Bereavement Support
National charity for bereaved people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland offering support, advice and information to children, young people and adults when someone dies. Cruse…
Child Bereavement UK
Child Bereavement UK supports families and educates professionals when a baby or child of any age dies or is dying, or when a child is facing…
Hope Again
Hope Again is the youth website of Cruse Bereavement Care. It is a safe place where you can learn from other young people, how to cope…
Help 2 Make Sense
UK’s leading charity fighting for children and young people’s mental health. Help 2 Make Sense Website
Young Minds
UK’s leading charity fighting for children and young people’s mental health. Young Minds Website
Apart of me
Apart of Me is a game designed to help you cope with the death of a loved one. Based on psychological research, the app provides a safe virtual space…
Grief Encounter Workbook
A workbook to encourage conversations with children, young people and adults about death. Grieving is hard work, especially for parents and children in deep grief. The…
Anxiety UK
Anxiety UK is a dedicated, friendly and approachable charity that believes that anxiety, stress and anxiety-based depression are treatable and manageable. It offers a range of…
Papyrus
The national charity dedicated to the prevention of young suicide. If you are having thoughts of suicide or are concerned for a young person who might…
Childline
A free, private and confidential service where you can talk about anything. Whatever your worry, whenever you need help, Childline are there online and on…
Samaritans
When people feel listened to, it can save a life. The Samaritans offer a safe place for you to talk any time you like, in your…
BetterSleep
Combines over 100 relaxation sounds, melodies, binaural beats and white noise, allowing you to create your very own relaxing soundscapes.
Happify
The Happify app is a way to make a game of all the positive psychology tricks you know might work, but make you feel kind of…
WellMind
WellMind is a free NHS mental health and wellbeing app designed to help with stress, anxiety and depression. The app includes advice, tips and tools to…
Breathe2Relax
The relaxation app trains you on the ‘belly breathing’ technique that has proven benefits for your overall mental health. Breathe2Relax is a portable stress management tool…
Smiles and Tears
An interactive tool to record memories, send gifts and write thoughts, feelings and emotions. Also includes tips on how to manage emotions such as anger, confusion,…