Childhood Bereavement

Childhood Bereavement
Posted on 11/01/2024
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Some thoughts on childhood bereavement, the holidays, and Seasonal Affective Disorder

Steering Committee

November 1, 2024

As we head into the holiday season, it is an important time to think about some of the ways the ways grief and loss, the holidays, and time and weather changes can affect children’s mental health. The month of November marks the observance of Children’s Grief Awareness Month in the United States (US) and it seems like a perfect opportunity to think about children’s bereavement and the ways it can impact children’s development. According to the Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model (CBEM) developed by Judi’s House/JAG Institute and the New York Life Foundation, an estimated 6.3 million children in the US will experience the death of a parent or sibling by age 18.1 This translates to about 1 in 12 US children experiencing such a loss before reaching adulthood. In California, the estimated rate is 1 in 14 children will experience the death of a parent or sibling before age 18, that is 7.1% or 626K children in California. If you expand the age of bereavement to 25, the rate more than doubles to 1.5 million children in California losing a parent or sibling!2 The COVID-19 pandemic brought childhood bereavement to the forefront due to the sheer number of losses as over 1.2 million people in the US died from COVID-19.3 We also know that the COVID-19 pandemic disproportionally affected racial and ethnic minority groups, therefore youth from these groups were disproportionately affected by parental loss.4 For example, between April 2020 – June 2021, 65% of youth who lost a parent or guardian to COVID-related deaths were children from racial and ethnic minorities.5 The pandemic likely worsened the gaps in access to health care (including mental health care), employment, housing, and wealth – the social determinants of health that caused the disparities in the first place – compounding the effects of bereavement for children. Research indicates that unaddressed childhood grief can have profound and lasting impacts, including but not limited to:

    Developmental disruptions, including relationship and academic functioning issues.
    Increased risks of substance abuse, mental health challenges (including depression and suicide), and poverty. 6

In California, racial and ethnic minority youth experience mental illness at rates above the state average, presumably have unmet mental health needs, and are more likely to attend underfunded public schools that lack quality mental health services.7 This means communities with the largest percentage of youth impacted by parental loss are often the least likely to have adequate resources to address bereaved youth's needs. A report by the New York Life Foundation and American Federation of Teachers found that bereaved students often exhibit:

  • Difficulty concentrating in class
  • Withdrawal/disengagement and less class participation
  • Absenteeism
  • Decrease in quality of work
  • Less reliability in turning in assignments8

Addressing childhood grief through comprehensive, culturally responsive, grief-focused, and trauma-informed care is crucial to mitigate these long-term consequences and promote healthy development among bereaved children in California.

The confluence of the holidays, time, and weather changes may exacerbate children’s grief which may lead to depression, notably one that is commonly known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). SAD is a form of depression that follows a seasonal pattern, typically occurring in fall and winter months. Common symptoms in children include irritability, fatigue, school difficulties, sadness, sleep changes, low energy, difficulty concentrating, and loss of interest in activities. While often discussed in terms of adults, children and adolescents can also experience SAD. The exact cause is unknown, but decreased sunlight is believed to disrupt the body's biological clock and production of serotonin and melatonin. This disruption can affect mood, energy levels, and sleep patterns. SAD can affect school performance, leading to difficulties with concentration and motivation. It's important to note that while many children may experience some "winter blues," SAD is a more persistent and severe condition that significantly impacts a child's functioning and requires professional assessment and treatment.9

Schools can support children and adolescents who may be experiencing symptoms of SAD by:10,11

  1. Implement school-wide strategies:
    • Consider evidence support social and emotional learning -based programs that
    • Train staff on recognizing and supporting students with SAD
  2. Offer accommodations:
    • Be familiar with options for accommodations like IEPs or 504 Plans for severely affected students
    • Provide instructional, environmental, and assessment accommodations as required
  3. Create a supportive classroom environment:
    • Reduce classroom stress by offering flexible deadlines and avoiding rigid schedules
    • Maintain a positive and upbeat atmosphere
    • Use strength-based teaching strategies to empower students
  4. Adapt teaching methods:
    • Use differentiated instruction targeted at the student's preferred learning method
    • Chunk large tasks into smaller, manageable parts
    • Provide frequent teacher check-ins and offer breaks from tasks
  5. Implement physical activities:
    • Incorporate regular exercise into the school day, particularly outdoor activities when possible
    • Offer indoor physical activities like yoga or dance during winter months
  6. Encourage social connections:
    • Promote involvement in extracurricular activities
    • Facilitate positive peer interactions and support
  7. Provide emotional support:
    • Develop a warm and supportive rapport with affected students
    • Offer positive feedback and reinforcement whenever possible
    • Teach coping skills and problem-solving strategies
  8. Promote emotional awareness:
    • Teach students to identify and label their emotions
    • Use activities like making faces expressing different emotions or discussing emotions in stories
  9. Teach self-care strategies:
    • Educate students about the importance of healthy sleep habits, nutrition, and exercise
    • Provide lessons on coping with criticism and managing stress
  10. Address mental health:
    • Make referrals to school counselors, social workers, or mental health professionals when necessary
    • Collect data on student behavior and mood to track progress and identify patterns
  11. Collaborate with families:
    • Maintain open communication with parents about the student's behavior and mood
    • Provide resources on SAD for families

By implementing these strategies, schools can create a supportive environment that helps children and adolescents with SAD manage their symptoms and succeed academically and socially.

References:

  1. Childhood Berevement Estimation Model (CBEM)
  2. COVID Data Tracker
  3. National Library of Medicine
  4. More than 140,000 U.S. children lost a primary or secondary caregiver due to the COVID-19 pandemic
  5. Childhood Grief Facts and Figures
  6. Policy Brief: Effects of Childhood Parental Loss on Mental Health Outcomes
  7. What Is Seasonal Affective Disorder?
  8. 7 Ways to Help a Child with Seasonal Affective Disorder
  9. Tips for Teachers: Ways to Help Students Who Struggle with Emotions or Behavior

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