{"id":28811,"date":"2021-08-25T12:52:28","date_gmt":"2021-08-25T11:52:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pinkoddy.co.uk\/?p=28811"},"modified":"2021-08-25T12:52:32","modified_gmt":"2021-08-25T11:52:32","slug":"support-for-grieving-children-and-young-people-due-to-the-pandemic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pinkoddy.co.uk\/blog\/2021\/08\/25\/support-for-grieving-children-and-young-people-due-to-the-pandemic\/","title":{"rendered":"Support for Grieving Children and Young People due to the Pandemic"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Guest post by childhood bereavement charity Winston\u2019s Wish<\/a><\/em>; help for the additional children grieving due to the pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How has the Covid-19 pandemic impacted grieving children and young people?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on children and young people. An estimated 10,450 children and young people have been bereaved of a parent, grandparent or caregiver due to Covid-19 in England and Wales. That\u2019s on top of the estimated 41,000 children and young people who are bereaved of a parent every year in the UK. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Winston's<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

With lockdowns, school closures, being cut off from support networks and unable to say goodbye to loved ones, the pandemic has also created a unique set of circumstances that has made grieving more complicated for these children. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMany children and young people have avoided grieving and instead bottled it up, because they simply can\u2019t deal with the painful feelings and emotions while also living through a pandemic,\u201d says Di Stubbs, Winston\u2019s Wish practitioner. \u201cHowever, while you might be able to postpone the intense feelings of grief, you cannot permanently avoid them.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Difficulties Experienced by Grieving Children<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Deferring their grief in this way can lead to a number of difficulties for children and young people, such as problems at school, mental health issues and more risk-taking behaviours. With support, children and young people can go on to lead full and flourishing lives but they need help from their parent or guardian to explore and express their grief. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Childhood bereavement charity Winston\u2019s Wish has created a number of resources, including activities and conversation starters, to help parents and guardians support their children with their grief, which are available to download here: winstonswish.org\/pandemic-grief<\/a>   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How has the pandemic complicated grieving for children and young people?<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI know everyone has had a tough year but it has been so hard to support my children as they grieve their dad\u2019s death while they\u2019ve also been away from everything and everyone who would normally be there for them: my mum, his parents, their cousins, teachers, school friends.\u201d Iona*, parent (names changed to protect anonymity<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Winston's<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Covid-19 pandemic and the response to it has created a unique set of circumstances that has made grieving more complicated for bereaved children and young people: <\/p>\n\n\n\n