Sourcing statements

A systematic search of the scientific and grey literature was conducted to source statements about how a helping professional should help a bereaved adolescent. The scientific literature was searched using PsycINFO and Medline databases using both search and index terms including: adolescent, teenage, youth, grief, bereavement, counselling, support, help. An example of the full search terms is included in Appendix A. The search was limited to English language publications, and research published within the past 10 years (from 2011 to the time of the search in July 2020). Statements that described how a helping professional can help a bereaved adolescent were included. Publications that did not have a focus on adolescent bereavement were excluded.

The grey literature was searched using Google search engines of English-speaking countries (Google.com, Google.com.au, Google.co.uk, Google.co.nz, Google.ca), using Google Chrome in incognito mode to avoid potential bias from the search history. Similar combinations of the search terms as those used to search the scientific databases were used to search the Google search engines (see Appendix A for full search string). The first 50 results on each search were screened for relevant content by one researcher (AR). Of the total 250 results screened, eight were determined to be relevant, including websites such as GoodGrief.org.au and the Suicide Call Back Service website, an online information booklet produced by the Government of South Australia, and three free-to-access online book chapters.

In addition, deidentified transcripts from 28 individual and 11 group interviews, with a total of 20 bereaved adolescents, 18 parents/guardians of a bereaved adolescent, and 34 counsellors, conducted in the APC study [15] were reviewed for statements regarding how a helping professional should help a bereaved adolescent. One researcher (AR) read the transcripts and extracted the relevant statements.