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Losing a Parent During Childhood

Grieving the loss of a parent at any age can be a difficult process and for those who lose a parent during childhood the loss can be particularly profound. A 2014 study by researchers with the National Institute of Health and Welfare Finland, the Karolinksa Institute in Sweden and Aarhus University in Denmark finds that people who experience the death of a parent in childhood are more likely to die prematurely themselves.  The study, tracking more than seven million people for 42 years finds that those who lost a parent before they turned 18 were 50% more likely to die during the course of that study.

We’ll hear the story behind the Fort Myers non-profit Valerie’s House, which provides a safe space for children and families grieving the loss of a loved one to share their experience in a supportive environment.  We'll also explore the role of mental health counseling in learning to cope with grief and the ways that children, from preschoolers to teens, may grieve differently than adults.

Guests:

Megan Goddard, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Registered Play Therapist with Sunshine State Counseling Center

Angela Melvin, Founder of Valerie’s House