For Teenagers

Do you know someone who died? You are not alone. Many teenagers experience the death of a friend, parent, brother, sister, grandparent, or other relative. You may find that it is difficult to concentrate at school. Many teens say that things that seemed important before the death may not be such a big deal now. Some teens hear well-meaning people tell them to "get over it" and "move on".

Grief comes out in many different feelings. These emotions are normal and healthy, as long as you are not hurting yourself or someone else. There is no set time for grief. It takes as long as it takes and is different for every person. During this time, there are some things you can do to help yourself along the way in your journey of grief: try journaling, talking to a trusted friend, and look at our “Things that can help” page for more ideas. And please, let the school counselor, parent, or other trusted adult know if you have thoughts of hurting yourself or someone else.

Remember, you do not have to be alone. Judi’s House can connect you with others your age who are going through similar experiences. Join a grief support group for teens, where you can talk freely with others your age.