The Importance of Parentless Teens Sharing Stories Together

"Adults around the grieving teen might offer them opportunities to open up about how they are feeling after the death of a parent, but some teenagers won't feel comfortable enough to open up to adults for many reasons. For most teenagers, it might be hard to open up about how they are feeling, especially if the death was recent. Some might only feel comfortable opening up to other teenagers who, like them, lost a parent."

"Counselors, schools, and adults can offer support; however, one of the best forms of support a grieving teenager can have is being around other grieving teenagers in a safe space where they can all open up and share their stories and feelings about what they are going through. This can come in many supportive forms-grief camps, grief discussion groups, or simply talking to another peer at school about the death of their parents."

"This can come in many supportive forms-grief camps, grief discussion groups, or simply talking to another peer at school about the death of their parents. "There's something deeply healing about youth sharing grief stories with others who truly understand. When they speak their truth in safe, compassionate spaces, they begin to feel less alone, and in the presence of others who have walked similar paths, they find strength, comfort, and the quiet reminder that healing is possible," writes Terri Chaplin, co-author of Unstoppable!: 25 Inspirational Stories From Women in Business Who Overcame Adversity to Create a Powerful Legacy"

When a teen loses a parent, they can feel isolated from their peers almost overnight. Many teens do not know peers who have experienced similar loss, which can lead them to feel they must grieve alone. Adults, schools, and counselors can offer support, but teenagers often feel more comfortable opening up to other teens who have lost a parent. Safe, compassionate peer spaces—such as grief camps, discussion groups, or informal peer conversations at school—allow sharing of stories and emotions. Sharing grief narratives with others who understand can reduce loneliness and foster strength, comfort, and healing.

Read at Psychology Today