A personal loss, large or small, may bring an experience of grief. People have their own individual reaction and response to grief. Yet grief is a universal human experience. Grief is part of life. Understanding the unique ways in which people experience grief can be helpful for both grieving people and those supporting them.
Experiences which lead to loss and grief include:
- death
- separation, divorce, relationship breakdown
- loss of family unit, children leaving home
- adoption/Relinquishment of Children
- unemployment, retrenchment, retirement
- loss of role, status
- loss of health, amputation, removal of an organ
- loss of homeland, culture, language
- loss of a pet
- loss of possessions, burglary, car theft
- loss of freedom
- disability
- loss of youth, body image
- infertility, stillbirth, miscarriage, abortion
- missing person
- loss of dreams, hopes, expectations
- caring for someone with a chronic or life threatening disease
- moving house, state, country
What are the signs?
Grief and loss is a personal experience and it differs from person to person. Many people believe they are alone in their experience and will withdraw socially and from pleasurable activities. Grief and loss is commonly experienced as a depressive episode. Anniversaries and other dates are often times of great despair for a person experiencing grief and loss.
What are the causes?
Grief can be around anything personal and special to the individual. The main cause of grief tends to be death and relationship breakdowns. Grief has no set pattern or order, the depth and duration of each episode is different for everyone.
How is grief and loss treated?
Therapy can be used to work through the pain of the loss, adjust to the new environment and to develop new skills in life.
Source of information: National Association for Grief and Loss
Worried About Someone Else?
Grief and loss comes in many forms and knowing how to support someone experiencing grief can be difficult. The following provides some tips on supporting someone who has lost a partner, friend or family member. These tips can also be aplied to other forms of grief or loss.
When someone dies, it affects many people. It may be the family and friends of the person who has died that feel the loss the most. However, even if you don't know the deceased person well you may still be sad or feel a sense of loss. It is a good idea to have someone you trust to talk to about how you are feeling. This may be a friend, family member or someone like a teacher or counsellor.
When one of your friends is close to someone who has died it may be tough for you to know how to help them or decide what to say. It is okay to feel unsure about how you can help them. Below are some tips.
- Let them know you care.
- Knowing what to say. Knowing what to say be hard. It is OK to be honest and let your friend know that you you're not sure what to say. You may want to start by asking if there is anything you can do.
- Staying in touch - Keeping in contact can be a way of letting your friend know that you are available if they need you.
- Be understanding
- Listening - In time your friend may want to talk about the person they have lost. This is often a sign they are managing their grief. Giving them the chance to talk may be helpful for them.
- It is ok to cry and grieve - It may be hard to see someone you care about upset and crying. It is OK to cry, and it is often a good way to express sadness and may help them to feel better.
- Look after yourself - It may be exhausting for you to share a loss. Taking time out for yourself is important.
- Finding help and information - Finding information about grief and loss may help your friend. You may be able to help them find someone like a counsellor to talk to. Your local phone book should have information about the counsellors in your local area or contact the helplines listed against this topic on this site.
Reference: Reach Out! website
Helpful Sites
Need Help Now?
Emergency Assistance
000 Emergency Assistance
National emergency assistance number for ambulance, police and fire response.
000
Lifeline Australia
Lifeline provides 24-hour confidential telephone counselling to anyone within Australia.
13 11 14
Suicide Helplines
Contacts for 24hr response services in each state for those feeling suicidal and for those supporting someone feeling suicidal.
Vic - 1300 651 251
NSW - 1300 363622 or 02 9331 2000
Qld - 07 3831 9016 or 1300 363 622
WA - 1800 198 313 or 1800 676 822
SA - 131465 or 1800 182 232
Tas - 1300 364 566
ACT - 1800 629 354 or 02 6205 1065
NT - 1800 019 116
Talk to someone now
Kids Help Line
Kids Help Line is a free, confidential and anonymous, telephone and online counselling service specifically for young people aged between 5 and 25.
1800 551 800
Lifeline Australia
Lifeline provides 24-hour confidential telephone counselling to anyone within Australia.
13 11 14
Get support online now
Kids Helpline
Kids Help Line is a free, confidential and anonymous, 24-hour telephone and online counselling service specifically for young people aged between 5 and 25.
University Support Services
Find your local university support services, by selecting your state, and then the name of your university.
