Grieving Teens Bill of Rights

The Grieving Teen’s Bill of Rights

This Bill of Rights was developed by participating teens at The Dougy Center; an organization providing support to grieving children, teens, and their families. It outlines topics covered in this booklet. Reading this list of your “rights” can empower you and help you understand that what you are feeling is shared with other grieving teens. You may want to show this list to a trusted adult, who can help you achieve your rights.

As a grieving teen, you have the right…

 To know the truth about the death and the deceased.

 To have your questions answered honestly.

 To see the person who died and the place of the death.

 To be involved in the funeral or memorial service plans.

 To be heard with dignity and respect.

 To be silent and not talk to anyone about your emotions.

 To not agree with the perceptions and conclusions of others.

 To grieve in any way without censorship, as long as you do not harm yourself or others.

 To feel all feelings and think all thoughts of your unique grief.

 To have guilt about how you could have prevented the death.

 To be angry at death, at the person who died, at God, at yourself, and at others.

 To not have to follow the “Stages of Grief” as outlined in a school health book.

 To have your own philosophical beliefs about life and death.

 To not be taken advantage of when you are mourning and vulnerable.

-- Adapted from Helping Teens Cope with Death, The Dougy Center, www.dougy.org