Symptoms:

• lack of appetite, nightmares, restlessness, inability to concentrate, irritability, depression or social withdrawal
• marked drop in school grades, increase in angry outbursts, or clinging to parents
• Feelings of guilt about being able to do something to prevent the loss, or regrets over how they acted to the person who died
• avoidance of talking about the loss

Goals:

• resolve feelings of guilt, anger and depression
• learn the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance
• work through the grieving process
• identify ways to handle stress and loss
• grieve the loss within a supportive emotional environment
• reengage in relationships with others and resume regular activities

Online Resources:

All KIDS GRIEVE
http://allkidsgrieve.org/home.html

Hospice: Helping Teens Cope with Grief
http://www.hospicenet.org/html/teenager.html

Teens Health: Death and Grief
http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/emotions/someone_died.html

Teens and Grief
http://www.griefworksbc.com/About.asp

Books for Teens Experiencing Grief
http://www.kidsgrief.com/teens.html