How to manage your own grief when a nation is mourning.
As a supporter of the royal family or not, the news of the death of the Queen will touch us all. For a grieving family, being surrounded by the collective grief of many could be overwhelming. The news, tv and social media will be filled with memorials and talk about loss. It’s likely that many schools will be making tributes or memorials to the Queen, or having assemblies about loss and remembrance.
Here are a few suggestions to help:
- Try to not watch too much news. It’s easy to get swept along with endless news coverage, only watch as much as you feel able to and do switch off. These programs will be available to watch another time if you wish to.
- Help your children put things into perspective. It’s OK to feel sad, look for the people who are helping the mourners to talk about their memories and what the Queen meant to them.
- Keep listening to your children and what ask they are thinking. It may help them to speak about their loss, or it could be making them feel sadder or more worried.
- This may make you think more about your loss. Perhaps you can imagine what your loved one would be saying about the news. Try to share how this is making you feel with a friend or family.
- Speak to your child’s school if you feel the activities to remember the Queen are too much. Perhaps they could suggest something different for your child to do, if it’s too much for them.
- Remember our Helpline. Please call if you want advice on how to speak with your children or loved ones.
Our helpline
We are here for you. For anyone struggling to cope, our helpline is open Monday – Friday, 9am – 12pm. Call 01342 313895 if you need support or advice.
Outside of these hours please leave a message or email helpline@jigsawsoutheast.org.uk and we will get back to you. We will be closed on Monday 19th September (Bank Holiday).
We help bereaved children and young people and those facing the death of a loved one in Surrey, Crawley, Mid Sussex and West Kent.
Illustration by our patron Gary Andrews.
