Reflections on Experiencing Parental Bereavement As a Young Person: A Retrospective Qualitative Study

: It is estimated that approximately 41,000 children and young people experience the death of a parent each year. Grief responses, such as anxiety and depression, can follow. This research investigated the adult reflections of experiencing parental death as a young person. : Semi-structured interviews were conducted with adults ( = 14; female = 8) who experienced parental death as a young person, which occurred over 5 years ago (time since death, = 12.9 years; age at death, = 16.4 years; age at interview, = 30.9 years). The data were analysed inductively using thematic analysis. : Seven themes revealed that parental bereavement can lead to (1) "" and is an (2) "" with (3) a "". Many experienced (4) "" but acknowledged that (5) "", highlighting the importance of (6) "" and triggers for (7) "". : Parental bereavement has significant emotional and physical consequences, but can also lead to personal growth. Talking therapies were rarely accessed, often due to a lack of awareness or desire to engage, revealing a translational gap between existing support services and uptake. Enabling open conversations about grief and identifying suitable support is a public health priority. This need has been amplified since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, which may be a trigger for grief empathy and re-grief in those who have already been bereaved.