Why Children’s Grief?

• 1 in 5 children will experience the death of someone close to them by age 18. Children are often the “forgotten mourners” at the time of death.

• A childhood bereavement can have a significant impact on a child’s emotional and cognitive development. Without proper grief support, children may struggle and experience mental health challenges and have difficulty coping with death in future.

Why do we need more grief programs?

• In Canada, the current health care system does not adequately resource and provide access to preventative interventions that have the potential to reduce risk and promote wellbeing in children and youth adjusting to the loss of a loved one.

• There are several organizations that provide children’s grief support. However, these programs do not always run all year round due to a lack of funding. Many of these organizations rely on community donations to carry out these programs. This poses a challenge as some organizations may not have the capacity to continue fundraising each year to support their children’s grief program.

• Additionally, many children’s grief programs in Canada are in urban areas. Families and children living in rural areas may not have access to affordable grief support.

A Message from the President

Christina Walton
Mts, Registered Marriage and Family Therapist
Licensed Funeral Director

I have seen many children suffer trauma, of sometimes being the one to find a parent’s body who has died by suicide. These and many other children are afraid and have deep sadness in their young eyes. I cannot look away. It is and has been my purpose, to help them.  They often feel alone and frightened.  In my 31 years as a Funeral Director, 14 years as a Registered Therapist, and 3 years as the Clinical Director for a children’s bereavement camp, I have witnessed the impact of grief and loss on children.

The adults around them are also grieving and the family system is under great strain. These children need and deserve support as they try to live with a devastating loss.

I also know the challenges that the bereavement agencies face as they try to meet the increasing needs of grieving children and do the work well; while also trying to obtain the necessary funds required to run the agency. I personally found it stressful and overwhelming, like trying to drive the hearse and the limo at the same time.

I am ‘one’ in my therapy office; I was part of ‘several’ at Camp, and I stand with ‘many’ in our communities. I know that together, we can help these children.