Children, Grief & Death: What You Need to Know

💡 What can you expect from this talk?

The inner landscape of a child facing the death and dying of a loved one is not well understood. The age and developmental stage of the child determines how differently they understand death and dying from an adult. With their limited experiences with adversity and coping strategies that have yet to mature, children’s grieving patterns are something that we are learning to understand.

Do children understand death, dying and the afterlife? Do they feel the loss even though they are generally happy and do not seem badly affected? Will protecting children from bad news be a better choice since ignorance is bliss?

This workshop will provide the audience with the essential knowledge of childhood grief and loss, and how you, as an adult, will be able to support a child in grief. Through a series of interviews, you will hear from the children first hand as they share personal experiences of grief and loss, and their insights and advice to adults. Straight Talk video is produced by Project Kindle. HCA hopes to raise awareness on the topic of childhood grief and loss and to normalize difficult conversations on the topic of death and dying.

🟢Who should attend?

The session is open to all.

✨ Meet the speakers

Mr Kelvin Gan is currently a Medical Social Worker in HCA's Kang Le Day Hospice and was previously supporting patients and families in the Home Hospice Service. He has worked with youths and their families in Diversionary Programs in the community prior to joining the palliative care sector. He has a special interest in supporting children and youth in their grief and bereavement journey.

Ms Gracia Lim is a Social Worker and Art Therapist by training and has served in the health care and social services since her graduation from Social Work, NUS in 1992 . She has journeyed with children, adults and families facing life threatening illness and loss at the Children's Cancer Foundation, NUH Children's Medical Institute, and also initiated the SGH Grief Support in the ICUs. She now leads Project Kindle at HCA, an initiative that aims to raise awareness of childhood grief, and support families and children facing the loss of a parent.

This activity is organised as part of Singapore Hospice Council's Live Well. Leave Well. Festival 2024. Click here to see more programme highlights.

About Singapore Hospice Council

Singapore Hospice Council (SHC) is a registered charity and an umbrella body representing organisations that actively provide hospice and palliative care in Singapore.

SHC is committed to improving the lives of patients with serious illnesses and giving support to the loved ones of these patients. It aims to coordinate and promote hospice and palliative care in Singapore; to support the training of doctors, nurses, allied-health workers, caregivers, and volunteers; to improve on the quality of palliative care; and to raise public awareness. It acts as the voice of hospice and palliative care within Singapore and internationally.

For enquiries, email us at info@singaporehospice.org.sg