Anticipatory Grief and Bereavement Support

Abstract

[Chapitre dans Children’s Palliative Care: An International Case-Based Manual. Downing J. (Coord.) Ed. Springer. 2020.] 1. Anticipatory grief and bereavement support for children demands honesty, reassurance and provision of a space for safe expression of emotions. 2. Anticipatory grief is triggered by disclosure of a diagnosis of a life-threatening condition (LTC) and prepares the child and family for dying and death. 3. Bereavement includes a wide range of emotions, experiences, thoughts, physical symptoms, social and spiritual changes over a long period of time, at differing times and with varying intensities and combinations. 4. Bereaved children and young people need to be listened to with empathy and given permission and facilitation to grieve in their own unique way, assurance that there is no right or wrong way to grieve, and given time and support for them to express their feelings. 5. Grief reactions in children and young people will change over time and maturity and vary according to gender, culture, age, previous losses and experiences, family support, the relationship to the deceased and the nature of the death.