The Effect of Losing a Loved One on a Student
Grieving students often find that their peers are uncomfortable with their sadness and find it difficult to be available to them when they are dealing with their grief. Furthermore, they often find that those who are unaffected by grief, underestimate the time it takes to process the death of a loved one and may minimize the intensity of their experience.
Here are some facts about students losing loved ones;
- One in five children will experience the death of someone close to them by the age of 18.
- One out or every 20 children, aged 15 and younger, will experience the loss of one or both parents.
- In a study of 11-to 16-year-olds, 78% reported that at least one of their close relatives or friends had died.
Now that you know some facts, here are some ways you can identify that a student is grieving:
Grief is not easy to identify specifically if it is something that happens at home or around people. Symptoms that may go unnoticed include loss of appetite and comfort eating. Although some symptoms are harder to identify some can still be easily identified such as aches and pains, anxiety attacks, difficulty breathing, and loss of concentration.
Here are some ways you can help a grieving student.
You should always allow students to express themselves. The goal is not to take away the pain of grief; the goal is to give students an opportunity to express it.
It is important for peers and school officials to invite grieving students to communicate in the wake of the death of a loved one or friend.
School can be seen as a safe and reliable resource for students dealing with the various stages of grief. Students may lack the coping skills or simply may not be ready to move on or deal with it.
