By Melinda Phillips
Schools are unique and vital communities within suburbs, towns and cities across Australia. Like all communities, relationships in schools are woven together with complex connections at a range of levels - between students, students and teachers, teachers and executive staff, teachers and families.
Death touches all communities and schools are not immune. It is estimated that one in thirty school-aged children will experience the death of a parent or sibling during their childhood, and this does not take into account the deaths of friends (who may also be students of the school) and extended family, and the family and friends of staff. The privileged place that school communities play in many peoples' lives (as students, workers, supporters and leaders) means that bereavement requires a throughtful, informed and timely response from school staff and school leadership teams. This brief article will touch on what students may need and want from their school community at this difficult time.
It is important in this situation to be guided by the family's expectations and wishes, as shared with the school. Every child and every family is unique and will experience their loss and grief in their own way. What families want from the school, when and how may also change over time and a worthwhile way for the school to manage and respond effectively is through naming one key staff member to be the ongoing contact person with the family.
Supporting children and young people
While supporting children as they manage loss and grief in the school setting is a critical part of school life, it is a part tghat may feel overwhelming. Teachers can be reassured that their professional expertise, coupled with a sensitive and informed approach to bereavement will most often be enough to provide support to the children in their care. Some children and young people may need more structured support, and teachers and leaders can assist with this by providing access to information about in and out of school counselling and other services.
Some ideas for specific age group are shared below as a useful starting point, but these are not prescriptive - an important guiding principle is to stay open and receptive to each child and their experiences and behaviours. This will help adults decide if and how to help. Children and young people move in and out of their grief. Some children, for example, may be very distressed at school and yet others may take a restorative approach to school life, preferring to deal with loss related issues elsewhere (Ackerman and Statham, 2011, p.9).
Supporting Young Children (4 - 8 years)
Young children have some understanding of the permanence of death. They may also have unrealistic throughts about their loss and blame themselves, and they may have frightening thoughts about the future. They may ask the same questions repeatedly, and need simple, honest answers as they make sense of the loss. Physically, they may be tired, distracted and unable to concentrate, and have stomach aches and headaches.
Supporting young children may include:
• answering questions simply and honestly
• allowing the expression of feelings and the availablity of appropriate comfort (a favourite teddy bear, etc)
• using a range of learning experiences - provide opportunities to draw, move and play
• creating a safe space for time alone for the student
• providing access to a support system in class (agreed symbols can help for students to flay they need some support/time away from the group, like placing a coloured card on the corner of their desk or table)
• planning together about completing activities and homework
• keeping to classroom routines, but being flexible when required
• assigning a class buddy for the student.
Supporting children (8-12 years)
Older children can usually fully comprehend the reality of their loss. They may try and mask their emotional reactions, either to comfort the adults around them of they may be angry and 'act out' this anger in a range of ways. Physically, they may experience many of the same reactions as younger students, being tired, achey, (head, stomach, body) and experience changes in eating patterns, but they are also undergoing the physical and hormonal changes of pre-adolescence so many are also managing these developmental changes too.
Supporting children may include:
• teaching the student about grief and emotions so that they understand what is happening to them (and that this is normal and natural)
• accepting and helping the student to learn to manage changing moods
• planning for and understanding the impact of physical changes including tiredness on participation in school activities and tasks
• being flexible to accommodate emotions while maintaining class routines (safe space for alone time, and classroom signals for support as mentioned earlier may both be useful)
• giving the child opportunities to participate in decision making to build a sense of control, both individually and within the classroom environment
• encouraging them to access additional support when needed.
Supporting young people (13- 17 years)
Teenagers may experience grief similar to other adults in their family at some stages, and present much more like a child at other times. Teenagers are constructing their identity and bereavement can shake the fundementals of this process, leading them to question even more who they are and what their place in the world is. Young people may experience intense, private grief, share the experience with their close friends, or do both. They may be more likely to engage in risk-taking behaviours if they feel they aren't managing the grief experience.
Supporting young people may include:
• teaching the young person about grief and emotions to build their understanding of what they are experiencing
• allowing for some regression in behaviours and managing expectations around this
• answering questions honestly
• supporting the young person to express and cope with their emotions
• allowing for choice and participation in decision making wherever possible
• providing flexibility around homework and assignments where possible
• encouraging the young person to access additional support (from friends, in school support and online eg reachout, eheadspace.)
Students need to feel safe, supported and have some opportunity to learn about what is happening to hem when they return to school. Teachers can provide this in class, and additional support (such as participating in the Seasons for Growth program at school) can also be helpful in normalising their experience and providing a safe space to share and learn with others.
Teachers, too, may need additional support to talk about how they are coping in class and school leaders should provide opportunities for structured support to teachers (school counsellors, school leaders or the school's EAP program may be good starting points). Change and loss are a normal part of life, and by planning for an engaging with students, their families, and staff when bereavement occurs school leaders are giving they communities a chance to feel safe and supported at a very challenging and often overwhelming time.
References
Ackerman, R and Statham, J. (2011). Childhood bereavement: a rapid literative review. London: The Childhood Wellbeing Research Centre.
Graham, A. (2008). Seasons for Growth Young People's Program Companion Manual. Sydney: Good Grief Ltd.
Graham, A. (2014). Seasons for Growth Parent Program: Supporting you child following separation and divorce. Sydney: Good Grief Ltd.
The Dougy Centre (2011). Helping the grieving student: A guide for teachers. Portland: The Dougy Centre.
The Dougy Centre (2011). Helping teens cope with death. Portland: The Dougy Centre.