REVIEW   

Minerva Psichiatrica 2018 December;59(4):187-91

DOI: 10.23736/S0391-1772.18.01978-7

Copyright © 2018 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Social programs on providing care for children who underwent parental death and parental separation

Pietro FERRARA ^{1, 2} ✉, Giulia FRANCESCHINI ², Annamaria SBORDONE ^{1, 2}, Federica SANDULLO ², Diletta SAITTA ², Antonio RUGGIERO ¹

¹ Institute of Pediatrics, Catholic University Medical School, Rome, Italy; ² Campus Bio-Medico University Medical School, Rome, Italy

The aim of this report is to raise the awareness of the pediatric community and public opinion toward the necessity of investing in health and social programs on providing care for children who underwent parental death and parental separation. Special attention should be paid to supporting parentally bereaved children achieving better outcomes in adulthood. Children who experience parental loss, could suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. Children exposed to early parents mourning have depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, oppositional disorders and conduct disorders more than who experience childhood parental separation. Pediatric community and public opinion should assert the necessity of investing in health and social programs on providing care for these children.

KEY WORDS: Parental death - Child - Health