Introduction – Chapter 1 1.1. The Research Topic to the and the ‘Grief requires us ‘relearn self’ ‘relearn world’. (Neimeyer and Anderson, 2002, p.50) Psychologists in the Western world have stated that the ensuing grief and loss as a result of a death, are and expected parts of and Fisher, 2010), and ‘natural life’ (Graydon, Jimerson that that a percentage of their students will be affected by the death of ‘schools must expect a and Harrington (2001) have found that as many as loved one each year’ (p.2). Harrison 92% of young people in the UK will experience what they see as a bereavement ‘significant’ before the age of 16. Other research suggests that between 4 and 7 per cent of children and adolescents in the UK will lose a parent (Ribbens McCarthy, 2006), and according to the National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement in the US (2013), approximately 5% of children and adolescents will lose a parent by age 16. The NCSCB (2013) further reports that most kids will experience grief through the loss of a friend or family member by the time they graduate from high school. These statistics are high indeed and are representative of studies done with children and adolescents who have lost a loved one in their family: a sibling, a grandparent or a parent. The figures however, do not specify the percentages ascribed particularly to adolescent loss. In their impact of Bereavement and Loss on article titled, ‘The Young People’, Ribbens McCarthy and Jessop (2005) reveal that very little research has asked young people themselves to voice their own experiences of bereavement; a few autobiographies are available and some clinical and professional case studies exist. In their research, these authors acknowledge that relatively little is known about this vulnerable group of adolescents and the significance of bereavement in their lives. Ribbens McCarthy and Jessop (2005) continue that studies suggest that large numbers of bereaved young people ‘some never talk to anyone about their experiences [and the] evidence points to a risk of social
Introduction – Chapter 1 1.1. The Research Topic ‘Grief requires us to ‘relearn the self’ and ‘relearn the world’. (Neimeyer and Anderson, 2002, p.50) Psychologists in the Western world have stated that the ensuing grief and loss as a result of a death, are ‘natural and expected parts of life’ (Graydon, Jimerson and Fisher, 2010), and that ‘schools must expect that a percentage of their students will be affected by the death of a loved one each year’ (p.2). Harrison and Harrington (2001) have found that as many as 92% of young people in the UK will experience what they see as a ‘significant’ bereavement before the age of 16. Other research suggests that between 4 and 7 per cent of children and adolescents in the UK will lose a parent (Ribbens McCarthy, 2006), and according to the National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement in the US (2013), approximately 5% of children and adolescents will lose a parent by age 16. The NCSCB (2013) further reports that most kids will experience grief through the loss of a friend or family member by the time they graduate from high school. These statistics are high indeed and are representative of studies done with children and adolescents who have lost a loved one in their family: a sibling, a grandparent or a parent. The figures however, do not specify the percentages ascribed particularly to adolescent loss. In their article titled, ‘The impact of Bereavement and Loss on Young People’, Ribbens McCarthy and Jessop (2005) reveal that very little research has asked young people themselves to voice their own experiences of bereavement; a few autobiographies are available and some clinical and professional case studies exist. In their research, these authors acknowledge that relatively little is known about this vulnerable group of adolescents and the significance of bereavement in their lives. Ribbens McCarthy and Jessop (2005) continue that ‘some studies suggest that large numbers of bereaved young people never talk to anyone about their experiences [and the] evidence points to a risk of social