What Grieving Children Want You To KnowAndy McNiel, MA, LPC

NYLife and NAGC National Poll• 531 Children & Teens• Ages 9 – 18• 17 Programs• 18 Compete the Statement• More than One Option• 3 Open Ended

The most helpful things?

55% indicated… “Spending time with Family.”

59% indicated… “Spending time with Friends.”

The most helpful things?• Listening to music (49%)• Staying busy (46%)• Going to grief group (42%)• Talking to other grieving children (41%)

What is their grief like?Pervading emotion is… Sadness (75%)

Other top emotions are…Feeling angry, alone, overwhelmed and worried

What is their grief like?• 86% wish they had more time.• 73% think about the person everyday.• 47% believe their life will be harder.• 46% cannot believe it is true.• 45% trouble concentrating in school.• 41% harmful behavior/choices.

What you want others to know…

You never stop missing the people you love who have died. (71%)

What you want others to know…

The death of my family member was the worst thing that ever happened to me. (68%)

What you want others to know…

I would give up a year of my life to spend just one more day with the person who died. (62%)

What you want others to know…

Most people don’t understand what it is like to have a family member die when you are young. (60%)

What you want others to know…

You should be nice to the people you love because you don’t know how long you will have them in your life. (58%)

What you want others to know…

I really miss the person who died, but I’m not sad all the time. (55%)

What you want others to know…

If you haven’t had a family member die, you don’t know how I feel. (46%)