INDIANA – As thousands of Indiana children cope with the often “silent and unseen” grief following the death of a parent, sibling, or loved one, the state is preparing to observe Children’s Grief Awareness Day on Thursday, November 20th.
The day serves as a critical reminder that grieving children are not alone and that acknowledging their loss is the vital first step toward healing.
The need for increased support in Indiana is significant. According to data, over 52,000 children under the age of 18 in Indiana have experienced the death of a parent or guardian, accounting for approximately 3% of the state’s total child population.
Nationally, children who experience bereavement are at a higher risk of academic failure, substance misuse, suicide attempts, and other challenges compared to their non-bereaved peers. In Indiana, the rate at which children were being parentally bereaved was reported to be higher in 2021 than at any time in the last two decades.
To tackle this growing crisis, grief support organizations from across the state have collaborated to form the Indiana Grief Education Task Force (IGETF). This initiative is focused on increasing grief awareness and providing comprehensive grief education within Indiana schools and communities.
The IGETF encourages schools, families, and the community to participate in Children’s Grief Awareness Day by wearing the color blue on November 20th. This simple act is intended to show support for grieving youth and to help initiate essential conversations about grief and loss, both at home and in classrooms.
Organizations across the state, such as Brooke’s Place in Marion County, Riley Children’s Health, and Erin’s House for Grieving Children in Fort Wayne, provide specialized, free services—including individual and group counseling—to help children and their families navigate the complex emotional landscape of bereavement.
