How children learn about grief through film

One rarely thinks about death or the lessons being taught while watching a Disney movie. But when analyzed, the messages being delivered to children about how and why people die are quite misleading.

On Wednesday, the Delaware Grief Awareness Consortium, comprised of volunteers with expertise and experience in the delivery of supportive services to grieving children and adults, held a seminar exploring how popular children’s movies present death and grief. Dr. Elissa Miller, director of palliative care at Alfred I. DuPont Hospital for Children, led the lecture, “What Children Learn about Death from Film.”

Miller showed through numerous movie clips that children are learning that death is something that only happens when you are old, and it is often a very peaceful experience. According to Miller, a child does not understand the meaning of death until the age of 10.

Another popular theme in children’s movies is how people die. Rarely do movies show people dying from an illness, Miller said, but rather, they die by falling, from a natural death, or they are killed by someone.

At some time in life, we will face the loss of someone we love. Loss is a part of being human and affects us all.  As common as it is, we frequently do not know where to turn to understand our feelings of grief or how to find help and support for ourselves or others.

Established in 2009, the Delaware Grief Awareness Consortium is a group of interested volunteers with expertise and experience in the delivery of supportive services to grieving children and adults.

The Consortium’s mission is to promote the public’s understanding of the processes and expression of grief in friends, families, and communities and to connect people with help and resources when and where they are needed.

In 2010, the Consortium, led by Dr. Patti Tillotson and Dr. Lee Anderson, presented the second successful annual community workshop, Living with Loss, and published the first edition of The Directory of Bereavement Resources in recognition of Delaware’s Grief Awareness Week. The Governor proclaimed the first full week, starting the first Sunday, of November as a time to remember and support those who are mourning the loss of their loved ones.

Now, as the Consortium enters 2012, new community leaders and members are committed to helping you access information, support, and opportunities to express and share your thoughts and feelings in a variety of ways.

With compassion, resources, and a grief-aware community, there is hope for healing.

COMING SOON:  The 2012 Delaware Grief Resource Directory:  a listing of support groups, people, events, books and other resources helpful in the event of loss.

Want to help others who have suffered from loss?  Please join us…

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