Children's Grief Awareness Day is observed on the third Thursday in November. This time of year is a particularly appropriate time to support grieving children and youth as the holiday season is often an especially difficult time after a death.

Children's Grief Awareness Day brings attention to the fact that support can make all the difference in the life of a grieving child or teen. It provides an opportunity to raise awareness of the painful impact that the death of a loved one, with an opportunity to make sure that grieving children and teens receive support they need.

Children and youth who have experienced the death of someone important to them often feel isolated, like their struggles are invisible to those around them. Grieving children and teens need advocates and allies navigating supportive ways to move forward. Every school and community has children and teens who have experienced loss. Children’s Grief Awareness Day is about recognizing that no young person should have to navigate grief alone.

We raise awareness so that people will understand that a grieving child or teen can't just "get over it”, not in any set time period, not by any act of their own will - and that there's no reason they should just "get over it. We can ensure children and youth feel seen, heard, and understood with the right tools, compassion and support.

Source: Children's Grief Awareness Day

CGAD seeks to raise awareness of the painful impact that the death of a loved one has in the life of a child or teen, and provides an opportunity to make sure that these children and #teens receive the support they need. In just one year, over 203,000 of Canada’s 7.5 million youth under 18 will experience the death of someone in their extended family.

1 out of every 14 children and teens will experience the death of a #parent, #caregiver or #sibling who lives in their home. These youth experience the ripple effect of multiple losses…

The death of a parent, caregiver or sibling has been found to be one of the most stressful life events that a child or youth can experience. Therefore it is important to provide children with information about grief, normalize their responses and encourage them to share their thoughts and feelings.

Children are often the hidden mourners in our society with little attention being paid to their bereavement needs. Every child has different needs, perspectives and understandings of what death means. Therefore it is important to provide children with information and education on death and grief as well as normalize their responses and encourage them to share their thoughts and feelings.

It is challenging to parent a grieving child when parents are themselves grieving. Grief is often isolating and consuming. Having access to resources and supports can help families feel connected and equipped to face their grief together.

Visit The Canadian Alliance for Children's Grief (CACG) for more information or resources. CACG is the first Canadian national group of professionals working together to ensure the accessibility of bereavement support and information to grieving children, teens and their families. Resulting from a collaborative effort amongst agencies and service providers across the country, the CACG seeks to address the barriers experienced by organizations providing services to grieving children and youth and strengthen the support offered to local communities. Source: CACG