Teenagers

Information for Teenagers

Glad you found your way to this page especially for young people. You’ve probably come to this page because you know someone who died. It might have been your mum or dad, brother or sister, grandparent or a friend. It may have happened a long time ago or just recently. What has it been like for you?

Maybe you’ve felt some of these things:

  • I’m the only one.
  • No one understands what I’m going through, but they think they do.
  • I can’t talk to my friends about this.
  • I can’t talk to my parent(s) because they get too upset.
  • Everyone wants me to talk about my feelings and I don’t want to talk.
  • I just want to be alone.
  • My heart feels broken
  • I wish I didn’t feel so different.
  • When is this “grief” going to go away?
  • I am angry. I am sad. I hurt. I wish this pain would go away
  • I don’t know what I feel.
  • I hate it when people tell me, “Move on.” or thing’s will get better

Sometimes it helps to talk to other people your own age who have also had someone who has died. There are no right or wrong ways to grieve. But there are some helpful and not-so-helpful ways that people grieve. You can learn about these things here.

Everyone grieves differently:

  • One teen may want to talk about death
  • Another may choose to cry
  • One might write about their experiences in a journal or chat room
  • Some choose to express their grief in creative/artistic ways
  • Others are physical in their grief – participating in sports or other big energy activities
  • No one way is the right way to grieve – your way of grieving is right for you, as long as it’s safe
  • Teen support group runs every second Friday 1.30-3.00pm for those who have received individual support (Edinburgh only at this time)

It can be helpful to see what other bereaved young people have felt or experienced following a death, click on the links below to access message boards and forums for bereaved young people, these sites are moderated and safe

RD4U – www.RD4U.org.uk
Winstons Wish www.winstonswish.org.uk/foryoungpeople
RIPRAP – www.riprap.org.uk
BRAKE – www.brake.org.uk