When we’re young, losing anyone important to us can be devastating. But losing a sibling can completely reshape a teen’s life. Relationships between siblings are quite unique. They can be a best friend, rival, protector, and the person who understands your family life better than anyone else, all at the same time.
When that person is suddenly gone, everyday life is no longer the same. Losing a sibling as a teen can have a tremendous impact on an adolescent’s emotional, mental, and physical well-being. Parents also struggle watching their child grieve while managing their own loss.
To help during this time, this page will explore:
Sibling relationships are unique. They often share:
When a sibling dies, your teen might not only grieve the person, but also the life they expected to have with them.
Losing a sibling, unfortunately, happens to many teens, with a recent study of two generations of data showing that one in 15 teens has experienced the death of a sibling.[1] The resulting feelings of grief and loss can significantly impact a teen’s well-being.
Research involving adolescent sibling bereavement found that after a sibling dies, teens may experience:[2]
In some instances, even months later, teens’ fears increased to include losing someone else or fears of dying.[2]
Losing a sibling as a teen happens during a time when they’re still developing their identity, becoming more independent, and already dealing with complicated emotions. Because of all this, the loss of a sibling can affect how they see themselves and their future.
Grief can include emotions that seem contradictory. A teen might feel devastated one day and spend time laughing with friends the next. They may feel angry with the sibling who died or guilty about an argument they had before the death.
For example, after the death of a sibling, one teenager may constantly replay their last conversation in their head. But another teenager may focus on the things they wish they had said or done differently.
These reactions don’t automatically mean something is wrong (aside from the experience of grief). We all grieve differently, and grief can come in waves. However, adolescent sibling bereavement can sometimes have a stronger impact on mental health.
Research suggests that a teen grieving a sibling may have higher rates of being diagnosed with a mental health condition, as well as twice the rate of suicide attempts.[3] After losing a sibling, teens, especially girls, might also have higher rates of depression.[1]
Some teens also experience surviving sibling grief and may become unusually restless, impulsive, or focused on staying busy so they don’t have to think about what happened.
There’s no single “best” way of coping with a sibling’s death. Your teen doesn’t need to forget or stop thinking about their brother or sister to heal. Instead, healthy coping usually means gradually learning how to live with the loss while reconnecting with:
Here are some ways to support your child’s coping after they lose a sibling as a teen:
Some teens want to talk about the person who died. Others need more time. Helping a teenager grieve their sibling means trying to keep the door open without pushing. Sometimes teens don’t want to talk with their parents, so be open to them talking with:
Support from family, friends, and other social connections can help teens survive sibling grief.[4]
Remembering a sibling doesn’t have to stop as grief changes. Your teen might find it helpful to:
Maintaining this connection can allow the sibling to remain part of your teen’s story without preventing them from moving forward.
Teens can sometimes feel guilt the first time they genuinely laugh, enjoy themselves, or become excited about something after a sibling dies. Make space for those moments and remind your teen that having joy doesn’t mean they miss their brother or sister any less.
They’re allowed to:
Grief and enjoyment can coexist.
Some teens benefit from meeting other young people who have experienced a similar loss. Professional counseling, family therapy, bereavement groups, and other forms of grief support for siblings can give your teen a place where they don’t have to explain why certain feelings or reminders are difficult.
Mission Prep is here to help you or your loved one take the next steps towards an improved mental well-being.
Therapy after losing a sibling as a teen isn’t designed to erase grief or encourage your child to forget their brother or sister. Instead, treatment can create a safe place to:
The right approach depends on your teen’s symptoms, experiences, personality, and needs, but some effective therapies for adolescent sibling bereavement include:
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps teens understand the connection between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. After losing a sibling, they might think they should have done something to change the outcome or feel that being happy means they’re forgetting that person.
CBT can help your teen examine these beliefs, challenge them, and develop more balanced ways of thinking without dismissing their grief.
Trauma and Grief Component Therapy for Adolescents (TGCT-A) is designed for older children and adolescents who’ve experienced trauma or traumatic bereavement.[5] Treatment is adjusted based on the young person’s circumstances. Depending on your teen’s needs, sessions can address:
After losing a sibling as a teen, your teen may find Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) helpful. EMDR can help them process traumatic or disturbing memories surrounding a sibling’s death that continue to trigger intense emotional reactions.[6]
During EMDR, a therapist guides your teen through structured processing of distressing memories while using bilateral stimulation, such as side-to-side eye movements or tapping. The goal is to help the memories feel less overwhelming.
Mission Prep provides treatment for teens experiencing various mental health conditions. Mental Health support is a phone call away – call 866-901-4047 to learn about your treatment options.
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At Mission Prep Teen Treatment, we know that watching your child struggle after the death of their brother or sister can leave you feeling helpless and overwhelmed. Our treatment programs offer support to teens and families experiencing grief, bereavement, and loss.
Through a whole-person approach, we’ll start by understanding what your teen is experiencing instead of defining them by their symptoms. From there, we’ll work with you and your teen to create a personalized treatment plan that fits their needs, strengths, and goals.
We use a combination of evidence-based therapies like CBT and EMDR, alongside family therapy, art therapy, and somatic techniques. This comprehensive approach supports teens experiencing a range of emotional and mental health challenges, including grief, depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and trauma.
The goal isn’t to make your teen “move on” from their sibling. Instead, we can help them carry that relationship with them while reconnecting with their own relationships, strengths, and future.
Whether your teen could benefit from residential treatment at one of our locations or something more flexible, like an outpatient mental health program delivered virtually, our team can help. Mission Prep Teen Treatment accepts insurance and is in-network with most major providers. We are happy to help you check your insurance coverage for mental health care.
Start the admissions process online or call 866-901-4047 to speak with a caring member of our team who can answer any questions you might have. Reach out for a free, no-obligation conversation.
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Everyone responds to loss differently, and your teen is not an exception. But we know that, as a parent, you might have questions about what to expect. Below, we’ll answer some common questions about sibling grief in teens.
There is no set timeline or endpoint for how long it takes for your teen to grieve a sibling. Feelings often come and go; some days may be harder than others, especially around birthdays, holidays, special events, and other milestones.
Gradually, with time, the grief lessens. But more important than the amount of time that has passed is whether your teen is gradually able to participate in daily life while processing the loss.
For many people, losing a sibling is extremely difficult because siblings often share daily life with us, especially as teenagers. So for teens, death can affect their sense of identity and connection. There is no single way a teen “should” respond, and grief may come and go over time.
Your teen may need grief counseling if the grief is causing serious or worsening problems with their mental and emotional health, as well as daily functioning.
If losing a sibling as a teen results in severe anxiety, persistent hopelessness, trauma symptoms, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts, these issues should always be taken seriously.
You don’t have to wait until your teen meets criteria for a specific diagnosis to ask a professional for guidance.
Yes, at Mission Prep, we provide teen mental health treatment for those experiencing concerns ranging from grief and depression to anxiety, trauma, anger, and suicidal thoughts. In a safe, supportive environment, we’ll help your teen process adolescent sibling bereavement, develop ways to cope, and reconnect with themselves.
Are You Covered for Mental Health Treatment?
We’re in-network with many providers. Call us at 866-901-4047 to verify your benefits and find out how much your plan will cover
Find out if Mission Prep is right for you by reaching out to us and speaking with one of our admissions representatives.
