When responding to youth impacted by anticipatory grief there is often a series of complex factors contributing to these moments of human connection & support. As a caregiver, frontline worker, support professional, or camp partner - we recognize the need for resources that can be easily referenced and shared. Designed by Eluna's diligent programmatic teams, we are proud to present these pocket-size postcard pointers with top tips from the field of bereavement support. 

You are welcome to print the Anticipatory Grief postcard pointers and distribute freely or you can purchase a set of pre-printed postcards from Eluna to be shipped directly to you or a community organization. 

ANTICIPATORY GRIEF

Pointers:

• Reassure youth that it isn't their fault & they are not alone
• Embrace all feelings & give permission to be happy. “_______ is really sick and we don’t know if their body will get better. You may have been seeing or experiencing strong feelings – from sadness & anger to joy & laughter - we welcome them ALL.”
• Create or order a care package with comfort items & activities
• Build a legacy book or box with photos, keepsakes, etc.
• Consider peer support groups & grief camps, such as Camp Erin
• Welcome questions & LISTEN! LISTEN! LISTEN!

Things to avoid:

• Empty reassurances, such as "Everything is going to be OK"
• Rushing the grief process or trying to fix it - It is ok to not be ok
• Telling someone how to feel or cope, such as "Be strong" or "At least...."
• Assuming all anticipatory grief is the same - let youth share personal experiences
• Abstract or broad terminology, such as "terminal" - use honest & precise language about the illness and it's impact on the body and daily functioning

Click here to see the full postcard pointer series

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