Bereavement in Children and Teens
Bereavement is a temporary sadness related to a major loss.
Bereavement typically lasts less than 2 months after the loss, but some
symptoms of bereavement may last as long as 6 months. Some reasons children or
teens feel bereaved include:1
- Loss of a boyfriend or
girlfriend.
- Ending of a friendship.
- Death of a
pet.
- Death of a family member or close friend.
- Parents'
divorce.
- Moving.
- Changing schools or grade
levels.
Mourning a loss is healthy as long as the child has a sense of
reality about the death or loss and eventually is able to accept the loss as
part of life. Most children will occasionally become sad about their loss again
at different times during the next few months or even years.
If bereavement is constant and lasts longer than 2 months or is
associated with feelings of guilt, thoughts of death, or a preoccupation with
worthlessness, the child may be experiencing major
depression instead.
Citations
- American Academy of Pediatrics (1996). Classification of Child and Adolescent Mental Diagnoses in Primary Care: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Primary Care Child and Adolescent Version, pp. 153–160. Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of
Pediatrics.
| By | Healthwise Staff |
|---|
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
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| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Lisa S. Weinstock, MD - Psychiatry |
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| Last Revised | April 5, 2011 |
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Last Revised:
April 5, 2011
American Academy of Pediatrics (1996). Classification of Child and Adolescent Mental Diagnoses in Primary Care: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Primary Care Child and Adolescent Version, pp. 153–160. Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of
Pediatrics.
