Children and Bereavement

Mrs Voaden shared her personal experience of raising children after the loss of a parent to cancer and highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by bereaved families. She noted that more than 46,000 children in the UK annually face parental death, emphasizing the need for national data collection and school education about bereavement. Caroline Voaden called for extending bereavement support payments, noting that her husband's national insurance contributions should entitle her to such support. She argued that continued financial assistance is crucial for a parent's mental stability and the well-being of their children.

I concur exactly with everything the hon. Member has said, as this is a cause close to my heart. I have a private Member's Bill on this very subject due to be considered in July. Christine Jardine emphasised the importance of a register for bereaved children, highlighting that organisations like Winston's Wish are unaware how to reach affected children. She noted the need for support networks accessible beyond school hours and stressed the economic benefits of providing early assistance.

Pays tribute to other MPs and campaigners for raising awareness on children's bereavement. Estimates that a child loses a parent every 20 minutes in the UK, highlighting the need for more data collection and support services. Advocates for a national register of bereaved children and mandatory school bereavement policies. Emphasises the importance of mental health support, community hubs, and financial assistance such as bereavement support payments to help families cope with loss.

Neil O'Brien paid tribute to organisations like Winston's Wish for supporting bereaved children. He highlighted personal examples of individuals who have overcome bereavement and noted the positive changes in mental health support for young people since 2017, including grants for senior mental health leads and the roll-out of mental health support teams. O'Brien also emphasised the need for a joined-up approach to data and supported the private Member's Bill by Christine Jardine to create a unique child identifier.

I worked as a mental health nurse and saw many people struggle with their mental health due to traumatic experiences, including family bereavements from years ago. Not addressing these episodes at a younger age can lead to long-term damage.

Stella Creasy highlighted the lack of support for children who have lost a parent to murder or terminal illness, stressing that counselling is often not provided as part of routine care. She mentioned cases where families had been unable to access necessary services due to gaps in eligibility criteria, such as immigration status issues affecting children's rights and financial support after losing both parents.

On that point, I want to give credit to my constituent John Adams for not letting the death of his mother hold him back in life. He was determined to see change and should be championed for all the work he is doing. I pay tribute to John Adams, who is leading the work on adding death, dying and bereavement to the national curriculum. He has over 1,900 signatures supporting this cause in South Shropshire. I lost my dad at eight and was shot at 17; dealing with children's mental health earlier can prevent long-term issues.