PP-22 Public and parental views on school-based grief education in the UK: findings from the Marie Curie PADDUK 2023 survey

<h3>Introduction</h3> Bereavement is not uncommon in children. Most experience the death of a close relative or friend by age 16. There is growing recognition that school-based grief education could enhance support for bereaved children by fostering compassionate school environments, while also benefiting children who have not yet experienced loss. <h3>Aim</h3> To explore public and parental attitudes in the UK towards including learning about grief in the school curriculum. <h3>Method</h3> Data were collected as part of the Marie Curie PADDUK 2023 survey on public attitudes to death, dying and bereavement, a population-based online survey. Views on grief education in schools were captured via rating scales and an open-ended question. <h3>Results</h3> Agreement with school-based grief education among the 10,500 survey respondents (including 4,590 parents) depended on children’s age and tended to be higher among parents: For younger (4–7 years) primary school children, 26% of all respondents (n=2746/10500) agreed that learning about grief should be included in the curriculum (parents: 37%; n=1692/4590), increasing to 45% for older (8–11 years) primary and 67% for secondary school children (parents: 54% and 72%, respectively). While most respondents recognised potential benefits of grief education, the potential for causing distress was a key concern for many (58% and 45%, respectively, for primary/secondary schools). The need for appropriate teacher training was clearly voiced (primary/secondary schools: 79% and 82%, respectively). The captured free text responses contextualise and expand on these quantitative findings. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Results demonstrate public and parental support for including grief education in the curriculum for older primary and all secondary school children. Appropriate teacher training and parental engagement will be critical for successful implementation. <h3>Impact</h3> Findings support recommendations to formally include discussions about bereavement and grief in the curriculum, offering evidence to help advocate for school-based grief education and guiding engagement with key stakeholders, including parents. <h3>References</h3> Harrison L, Harrington R. Adolescents’ bereavement experiences. Prevalence, association with depressive symptoms, and use of services. <i>J Adolesc</i>. 2001;<b>24</b>(2):159–69. doi: 10.1006/jado.2001.0379 Dawson L, Hare R, Selman L, Boseley T, Penny A. ‘The one thing guaranteed in life and yet they won’t teach you about it’: The case for mandatory grief education in UK schools’. <i>Bereavement.</i> 2023;<b>2</b>. doi: 10.54210/bj.2023.1082. The UK Commission on Bereavement. Bereavement is everyone’s business. 2022 Summary Report. Available at: https://bereavementcommission.org.uk/ukcb-findings/