Üsküdar University NP Feneryolu Medical Center Specialist Clinical Psychologist Seda Aydoğdu explained the meaning attributed to death by children and adolescents who lost their relatives and how death should be expressed to them.
The earthquake centered in Kahramanmaraş, which affected 11 provinces, caused many children and adolescents to lose their relatives. Stating that children in the 0-2 age group cannot make sense of death, experts also state that children in the 2 and 5 age group cannot understand death as an irreversible concept. Specialist Clinical Psychologist Seda Aydoğdu, who says that school-age children know what death means, draws attention to the fact that adolescents can be more depressed, introverted, hopeless and self-blaming in the face of death. Aydoğdu recommends that children in the 0-2 age group continue their routines by providing basic care, and avoid using words such as 'You have grown up now, be firm' towards adolescents.
Children struggle more than adults
Stating that children have more difficulty in coping with death in these difficult days, Specialist Clinic Seda Aydoğdu said, "Especially in pre-school 0 and 2 years of age, our children cannot name death, so our children in this age group should continue their routines, provide basic care, and use calming lullabies and toys. It is very important to be.”
They interpret death differently.
Specialist Clinical Psychologist Seda Aydoğdu stated that children in the age group of 2 and 5 cannot understand that death is an irreversible concept. In this context, we need to tell our children that we will never see our losses again, but that we will always love them and how to remember our joyful memories.”
Adolescents can have a depressive attitude
Noting that school-age children know that death is an irreversible concept, Aydoğdu said, “In this context, it is very important to pave the way for them to express their feelings and thoughts. Our adolescents, on the other hand, know that death is an absolutely irreversible concept, but they can become more pessimistic, more hopeless, more introverted, more depressed and self-blaming. In this context, great care should be taken to avoid words such as 'be patient, you have grown up now', especially when talking to them.