Support for children

Hello scoobyandpoppy and thank you for reaching out.

I’m sorry to hear about your ex-husband, it’s understandable that you want your children to have the support they need during this difficult time.

Our booklet Preparing a Child for Loss is aimed at parents, grandparents, or guardians who are near the end of life but you may find the section on ‘telling your children’ useful. It aims to help you prepare and talk to a child or children about death and looks at things such as choosing the right time and place and some of the questions that might be asked.

Is your daughter’s school aware of what’s happening? They might be able to put support in place for her and your family GP can perhaps refer her for counselling although they may be a waiting list.

If private counselling is an option, the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) have an online directory of counsellors and therapists you can access via their website.

Childline is a free, private and confidential service where young people can talk about anything. Their number is 0800 1111 and there are lots of useful resources on their website such as message boards and a ‘1-2-1’ counsellor chat service.

Hope Support Services supports 11 – 25-year-olds when a family member is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. You can visit their website or call them on 01989 566317 to find out more about what they do.

Riprap is a website developed especially for teenagers in the UK who have a parent with cancer. It has an online forum where teenagers going through similar experiences can talk to each other for support.

How are you just now scoobyandpoppy? I appreciate this must be a difficult time and knowing the effect this will have on your children can’t be easy. Do you have support around you, people you can talk to?

We’re here for you during this difficult time so please stay in touch if it helps to talk or if you have any further questions

Take care.