Sacred Memories: Creative Art Therapy for Children in Grief

<p>This paper explores the creative opportunities children might have to attend to their emotions and feelings following the death of a parent, grandparent or close friend. It presents the position that often children are left out of the process of caring for an adult when they are terminally ill and that has long term psychological implications. It also suggests that this has antecedents for the white New Zealand culture that were noted historically. Hospice palliative care services in New Zealand identify the need to be proactive in their holistic care for the family when a person is dying and this care must include the family which invariably includes children. In this research the author describes a personal journey that has shaped her current work as a hospice practice manager. She has chosen to highlight a neglected aspect in services in New Zealand. The writer explores literature in psychological aspects of removing children from the dying room, creative therapies and the importance of sacred memories for the living child to be enfolded in through their life. The need to create memory that will embrace the child as a cloak enfolds them in their crisis stimulated the writer to offer a text in the personal narrative form. This text is presented in this form to enable other clinicians to access their own memories as survivors of grief in their own families. Through enabling children and family to explore the importance of relating in the palliative phase of a person’s life journey it is suggested that doors open that build good memories for the survivors. I regard my specific form of interest as pursuing the idea of building memory creative ‘corners’ and fun experiences for children at my work. The reasons why such an experience would be beneficial now and in the future for children and their families will be the focus for conducting my literature research. Children were important in the final days of her father’s life. He directed the family to accept the roles he saw would be theirs. Memories became their treasures.</p>

Sacred Memories: Creative Art Therapy for Children in Grief

<p>This paper explores the creative opportunities children might have to attend to their emotions and feelings following the death of a parent, grandparent or close friend. It presents the position that often children are left out of the process of caring for an adult when they are terminally ill and that has long term psychological implications. It also suggests that this has antecedents for the white New Zealand culture that were noted historically. Hospice palliative care services in New Zealand identify the need to be proactive in their holistic care for the family when a person is dying and this care must include the family which invariably includes children. In this research the author describes a personal journey that has shaped her current work as a hospice practice manager. She has chosen to highlight a neglected aspect in services in New Zealand. The writer explores literature in psychological aspects of removing children from the dying room, creative therapies and the importance of sacred memories for the living child to be enfolded in through their life. The need to create memory that will embrace the child as a cloak enfolds them in their crisis stimulated the writer to offer a text in the personal narrative form. This text is presented in this form to enable other clinicians to access their own memories as survivors of grief in their own families. Through enabling children and family to explore the importance of relating in the palliative phase of a person’s life journey it is suggested that doors open that build good memories for the survivors. I regard my specific form of interest as pursuing the idea of building memory creative ‘corners’ and fun experiences for children at my work. The reasons why such an experience would be beneficial now and in the future for children and their families will be the focus for conducting my literature research. Children were important in the final days of her father’s life. He directed the family to accept the roles he saw would be theirs. Memories became their treasures.</p>

The Impact of Parental Bereavement on Young People: A Thematic Analysis of Using Online Web Forums as a Method of Coping

A qualitative approach was used to explore how online web forums might facilitate recovery and the process of coping. Ten online web forums written by young people who have personally experienced the death of a parent formed the data of this study. Previous research suggests forum users do not receive the supportive reactions from face-to-face interactions that they desire. Thematic analysis found that forums created an environment where young people can process the bereavement of a parent. Forums allowed young people to use their experience of bereavement to positively support others with similar experiences. The findings imply that the process of using forums can positively impact individuals who have experienced the loss of a parent. This supports recommendations by professionals, to consider online forums as a coping strategy. This study presents one of the few analyses of web forums written by young people who have experienced parental bereavement.

Reducing suicide risk in parentally bereaved youth through promoting effective parenting: Testing a developmental cascade model.

Children who experience the death of a parent are at increased risk for suicidality. The Family Bereavement Program (FBP) is a preventive intervention for parentally bereaved families that was found to reduce suicidal thoughts or attempts in parentally bereaved youth up to 6 and 15 years later. In this study, we tested whether FBP-induced improvement in parenting led to changes in multiple factors that prior theory and research implicated in the pathway to suicide risk, namely, aversive self-views, caregiver and peer connectedness, grief, depressive symptoms and emotion suppression. The sample was 244 bereaved youth and their surviving caregiver from 156 families. Families were randomized into the FBP (twelve group-based sessions for parents, youth, and two joint sessions) or literature control condition. Caregivers and youth completed baseline, post-test, 6 years and 15 years follow-up assessments. Results showed that program-induced improved parenting at post-test was associated with reduced aversive self-views and increased caregiver connectedness at 6 years follow-up, and each was in turn associated with reduced suicide risk at 6 and 15 years follow-up. The mediated pathways via aversive self-views remained significant while controlling for the pathways via caregiver connectedness. We discussed the theoretical and clinical implications of the findings.

‘Don’t forget the children’: a qualitative study when a parent is at end of life from cancer

Purpose Preparation for end of life is one of the greatest challenges faced by parents with cancer who have dependent children (< 18 years old), with requirement for support from professionals. The aim of this study is to explore how parents can be best supported in relation to their children, when a parent is at end of life from cancer. Methods This is an interpretive qualitative study, using 79 semi-structured interviews with parents at end of life (n3), bereaved parents (n21), health and social care professionals (HSCPs) (n32) and funeral directors (n23). Data were analysed thematically and triangulated. Results Parents are central to preparing their children for the death of a parent. Striving for everyday ordinariness, maximising social networks, maintaining hope and making preparations for the future are helpful for families when a parent is at end of life. Most HSCPs were unaware of the challenges faced by parents at end of life, and psychosocial support was often left outside the caring realm. As a result, funeral directors noted complexities faced by the families after the death. Results are discussed under four themes: (1) communication with the children as a process, (2) coping throughout the unfolding end of life experience, (3) tension and complexities at end of life and (4) preparing for the future. Conclusions Parents should be reassured that by involving the children early in the end of life experience when the ill-parent is ‘well enough’ to parent enables them to be actively involved in supporting their child through one of the greatest life changing event. A number of recommendations are discussed for professionals.

Acute and long-term grief reactions and experiences in parentally cancer-bereaved teenagers

Background Previous research shows that many cancer-bereaved youths report unresolved grief several years after the death of a parent. Grief work hypothesis suggests that, in order to heal, the bereaved needs to process the pain of grief in some way. This study explored acute grief experiences and reactions in the first 6 months post-loss among cancer-bereaved teenagers. We further explored long-term grief resolution and potential predictors of having had “an okay way to grieve” in the first months post-loss. Methods We used a population-based nationwide, study-specific survey to investigate acute and long-term grief experiences in 622 (73% response rate) bereaved young adults (age > 18) who, 6–9 years earlier, at ages 13–16 years, had lost a parent to cancer. Associations were assessed using bivariable and multivariable logistic regression. Results Fifty-seven per cent of the participants reported that they did not have a way to grieve that felt okay during the first 6 months after the death of their parent. This was associated with increased risk for long-term unresolved grief (odds ratio (OR): 4.32, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.99–6.28). An association with long-term unresolved grief was also found for those who reported to have been numbing and postponing (42%, OR: 1.73, 95% CI: 1.22–2.47), overwhelmed by grief (24%, OR: 2.02, 95% CI: 1.35–3.04) and discouraged from grieving (15%, OR: 2.68, 95% CI: 1.62–4.56) or to have concealed their grief to protect the other parent (24%, OR: 1.83, 95% CI: 1.23–2.73). Predictors of having had an okay way to grieve included being male, having had good family cohesion, and having talked about what was important with the dying parent. Conclusion More than half of the cancer-bereaved teenagers did not find a way to grieve that felt okay during the first 6 months after the death of their parent and the acute grief experiences and reaction were associated with their grief resolution long-term, i.e. 6–9 years post-loss. Facilitating a last conversation with their dying parent, good family cohesion, and providing teenagers with knowledge about common grief experiences may help to prevent long-term unresolved grief.

Toward an Understanding of Childhood Bereavement: an Exploratory Study

The death of a parent is one of the most significant and traumatic events children encounter throughout their lives. During this difficult time, educators are uniquely positioned to support grieving children because the classroom may be the primary setting in which children begin to express their grief. The extent to which students express their feelings depends on the classroom climate. The classroom can provide the stability and security grieving children need. Trust and rapport can also be established as educators discuss illness and death. Providing children with accurate information helps prevent misconceptions and worrying associations that can complicate reactions to death and loss. This study explores childhood grief with a focus on how the death of a parent affects children, as perceived/understood through their parents, and aims to provide educators with knowledge and skills to enhance their support of grieving children and their families.

Toward an Understanding of Childhood Bereavement: an Exploratory Study

The death of a parent is one of the most significant and traumatic events children encounter throughout their lives. During this difficult time, educators are uniquely positioned to support grieving children because the classroom may be the primary setting in which children begin to express their grief. The extent to which students express their feelings depends on the classroom climate. The classroom can provide the stability and security grieving children need. Trust and rapport can also be established as educators discuss illness and death. Providing children with accurate information helps prevent misconceptions and worrying associations that can complicate reactions to death and loss. This study explores childhood grief with a focus on how the death of a parent affects children, as perceived/understood through their parents, and aims to provide educators with knowledge and skills to enhance their support of grieving children and their families.

Development and evaluation of the Good Grief program for young people bereaved by familial cancer

Background Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) bereaved by the death of a parent or sibling from cancer report unique psychosocial needs and can have difficulty adjusting to their loss. Unaddressed, this can result in poor long-term bereavement outcomes. This paper describes the development and evaluation of Good Grief – a 3-day camp-based program focused on meeting coping, social support, and respite needs of AYAs bereaved by familial cancer. Methods One hundred and nine Australian AYAs (68% female; age: 12–25 years, M = 16.63) participated in the evaluation. Grief intensity (Texas Revised Inventory of Grief), meaning-making (Grief and Meaning Reconstruction Inventory), trauma coping (Perceived Ability to Cope with Trauma Scale) and unmet needs (Bereaved Cancer Needs Instrument) measures were administered pre-program and 3-months post-program. Acceptability was measured after each session and at the program’s conclusion. Appropriateness was measured at 3-month follow-up. Thirteen participants were interviewed three months post-program on their perceptions of the program. Results Participants reported high program satisfaction, engagement with psychosocial sessions, and enjoyment of recreational activities. Significant improvements were observed in trauma coping abilities and reductions in unmet needs for managing emotions, social support, respite, future planning, and accessing information and support domains. No change was evident in grief intensity or meaning-making as measured quantitatively. Interviews supported these quantitative findings but also identified evidence of personal growth, a component of meaning-making. Conclusions Good Grief is a highly acceptable and beneficial intervention that addresses the unique needs of AYAs bereaved by familial cancer.