Young mourners: experiencing loneliness and incomprehension in the event of loss

Young mourners: experiencing loneliness and incomprehension in the event of loss

When young people experience the loss of a loved one, they often feel alone in their grief. The experienced grief counselor Lana Reb makes it clear in an interview: “Young mourners often cannot find a suitable contact point and end up in grief groups with older participants, where they feel misunderstood.” Especially in a phase of life in which many people are in the middle of working life or planning a family, the options for coping with grief are particularly limited.

Young people not only suffer from the loss, but also feel the lack of understanding from their friends. Reb explains: "Society is often not prepared for the death of young people. When someone from an older generation dies, it is an expected situation for others, but this causes fear among young people." According to Reb, grieving work for young adults requires an adapted approach to reduce the specific feelings of loneliness and isolation.

Growing need for grief counseling

In many regions there is a lack of specialized services for young mourners. The connection to the church, once an important starting point for grief support, is no longer available for many young people. Reb emphasizes that while many in urban areas are finding new services, rural areas are often left without support. The characteristics of grief are different and require sensitive support - which is why alternative formats such as online grief groups have become important.

“We have been offering an online advice center since 2004, which creates a low-threshold opportunity, especially for younger adults, to seek help,” explains Reb. In these groups, participants can exchange their experiences anonymously and receive support in a protected environment. Such offers are invaluable, especially in the early days after a loss.