MHM Magazine

Issue 4 | 2021 | MENTALHEALTHMATTERS | 37 MHM During childhood most children and adolescents experience loss through death of a parent/caregiver, family member, friend and/or peer. Bereavement is an unavoidable part of life. With the current Covid-19 pandemic many children are confronted with death either through the death of someone close to them or through someone they know. From the different losses children may suffer, the death of a parent is probably the most painful and distressing. In South Africa (according to statistics of 2017) leading causes of death are tuberculosis, diabetes mellitus, cerebrovascular diseases, and HIV/ AIDS. The loss of a parent usually leads to temporary psychological adjustment problems, including internalising difficulties (depressive and anxiety symptoms) and externalising difficulties (defiance, and aggressive behaviour) problems, somatic complaints, By Dr Lanél Maré Clinical Psychologist Pretoria, Waterkloof Ridge lanelmare@gmail.com GRIEF, BEREAVEMENT AND MOURNING IN CHILDREN “Sorrow’s child grieves not what has passed, but all the past still yet to come…” - Nick Cave -