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Grief and loss processing

Grief and loss processing

Losing a child is often the most traumatic event in a parent's life. The right support during the grieving process, both before and after the death, can be incredibly helpful for a family. The grieving process is different for everyone.

Grief and loss processing

Aftercare

Aftercare provided by caregivers who know the family well plays an important role in helping parents process grief and loss. It helps them reflect on what happened and get answers to questions. This support in the initial period after the death helps prevent complicated grief and contributes to greater peace and stability in the long term.


Living loss

For families around a child with a serious illness or condition, grief often begins long before the child's death. This is called "living loss." It involves the loss of future expectations, certainties, and dreams you once held for your child and your family. Simultaneously, there is the daily care, love, and hope for beautiful moments together. This contradiction can be confusing and exhausting. Many parents recognize the feeling that saying goodbye isn't a one-time thing. Addressing living loss within pediatric palliative care helps to take these feelings seriously and create space for them.

Guidance for life questions, grief and loss

During the illness and after the death of a child, a spiritual counselor or grief and loss counselor can support a family and help them think through questions about life, illness, and death. The Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) supports parents who wish to use this support with a subsidy called the Spiritual Care Impulse. The flyer below provides more information.

Integrated Child Care Network (NIK)

Would you like to contact a spiritual counselor or grief and loss counselor? Then contact the network coordinator of the Integrated Childcare Network (NIK) in your region.

Practical support for grieving in the family

The emBRACE toolkit was developed to support families through grief and loss, both before and after the death of a child. The toolkit offers practical materials for immediate use.


Loss and grief

Initiatieven voor ouders
fa-tools

Initiatieven voor ouders

Support and assistance for parents

Share your story

“It is often more difficult for men to talk about these kinds of topics,” says Rik

Podcast

How do you help a family that loses a child to cancer? When five-year-old Nomi became ill, his good friend Rik mobilized the Schaijk carnival association. In a special WhatsApp group, which the family wasn't part of, they discussed what support they could offer. "For men, talking about these kinds of topics is often more difficult," says Rik. Discover how he overcame this hurdle to support his good friend Pieter.


Related books

It grieves in you

It grieves in you

The Grief Within You is a heartfelt book full of insights and honest testimonies; relatable for parents of a deceased child. There's room for grief, abundant understanding and recognition, but also hope.

View this book
Memory activity book

Memory activity book

Children who grieve, the successful 'Memory activity book' takes them through the process

Read more

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