This week, December 2nd -8th, is National Grief Awareness Week.
On this issue we are choosing to support the work of the Good Grief Trust. If you want to know more about this organisation in general, or about the awareness week specifically and how you can support it, visit https://www.thegoodgrieftrust.org/ .
The aims of the Good Grief Trust are to:
- Normalise grief and get people talking.
- Break the taboo, making it easier to talk about grief and loss.
- Acknowledge the immediate impact grief can have on someone physically and mentally.
- Provide guidance on what to say or do to help those bereaved
- Raise awareness of the services and support available and to encourage people to use them.
The Good Grief Trust is run by the bereaved for the bereaved.
In their words, it is important to recognise what the words ‘grief’ and ‘loss’ mean and that they don’t always relate to a bereavement.
A person can be grieving the significant loss of a relationship, home, job or Pet and equally experience common symptoms such as the following:
- shock and numbness – this is usually the first reaction to loss, and people often talk about “being in a daze”.
- overwhelming sadness, with lots of crying.
- tiredness or exhaustion.
- anger – towards the person you’ve lost or the reason for your loss.
- guilt – for example, guilt about feeling angry, about something you said or did not say, or not being able to stop your loved one dying.
These feelings may not be there all the time and powerful feelings may appear unexpectedly.
Christmas, itself, isn’t always magical for everyone and can be really difficult for some people.
The Good Grief Trust believe there are simple things you can do to help others get through difficult times.
What you can do to support those you think might be struggling:
- Check in on your neighbours.
- Stop for a chat with friends/colleagues.
- Put the kettle on and take time for a catch-up.
- Go for a walk with family/friends – encourage the subject not to be taboo.
There are also places to go for more support:
- https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/feelings-symptoms-behaviours/feelings-and symptoms/grief-bereavement-loss/ .
- https://www.cruse.org.uk/ or call them on 08088081677 .
- https://www.ataloss.org/ .
- https://childhoodbereavementnetwork.org.uk/ – supporting bereaved children.
- https://www.griefencounter.org.uk/ – bereaved children and young people (live chat also available).
- https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-bereavement-and-pet-loss – grieving the loss of a pet.
For more support and advice on Christmas and mental health go to:
– End.
