Loss and Grief

1. Loss and grief

2. Loss and grief
• Loss and common reactions to loss
• The grief process and complicating
factors
• How to help grieving persons

3. LOSS AND GRIEF
Loss: fact of no longer
having something, or
having less of something
Act of dispossessing what
one previously owned
Grief is a set of
different reactions to
any loss
Emotional response to
death or other loss of
a loved one

4. LOSS RELATED TO ILLNESS
• In case of Pneumonic Plague the person also goes
through a process of losing which may or may not
end by loss of life:
– Loss of physical strength
– Loss of mobility
– Loss of job
– Loss of physical attractiveness
– Loss of social life
– Multiple losses......

5. STAGES OF GRIEVING PROCESS
• Shock and Numbness
• Realization of Loss
• Acceptance
• Re-Investment

6. Four areas of adjustments

7. COMMON REACTIONS TO
SUDDEN LOSS
• Shock
• Anger
• Guilt
• Depression
• Despair
• Hopelessness
• Search for meaning
• Religious and spiritual beliefs get challenged
• Goals and plans get re-evaluated

8. FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE GRIEVING
PROCESS
 Cause of loss (Pneumonic Plague and
social stigma !)
 The location of the survivor at the time of loss
– (Pneumonic Plague isolation center)
 Sudden loss
 Suffering when dying
 Death of more than one
 Plague Safe burial vs traditional burial
 The survivor’s life situation at the time
(financial pressures, job pressures …)

9. FACTORS THAT HELP THE
GRIEVING PROCESS
– Family, friends, community support, counselling
availability
– Support of co-workers, supervisors and the
general public
– Survivor’s previous experience with loss and
death
– Spiritual beliefs
– The survivor’s personality, his/her attitude
towards life and death
– Culture of the survivor.

10. Group Discussion
In small groups think of different ways that people can
grieve without engaging in traditional ceremonies and
rituals that involve handling the dead body?
e.g. In other cultures individuals and families have planted
trees in remembrance of their loved ones. Do you think
that would be enough in Madagascar?
Others have been able to hold memorial services for their
loved ones using photographs of the person as a focal
point. Do you think that is enough in Madagascar?
What else do you think people could do?
Feedback to the group alternative ways that people can
grieve

11. HELPING OTHERS
• Allow for intense emotions
• Ask whether you would need to call someone to come to the
location, and arrange for transportation for this person if
possible
• Be prepared to allow a lot of time for the bereaved to process
the information given
• Encourage family members to be together and offer resources
for help, i.e. doctor, and/ or counselor
• Encourage the bereaved to take care of themselves
• Be aware and mindful of your own feelings about death; know
your limitations in your effort to help another person who is in
grief

12. HELPING YOURSELF
• Realize Your Grief is Unique
• Expect to Feel a Multitude of Emotions ( sadness, anger,
guilt…)
•
• Recognize the Death's Impact on Your Entire
Family/Community
• Reach Out to Others for Support
• Be Tolerant of Your Physical and Emotional Limits
• Embrace Your Spirituality
• Allow Yourself to Search for Meaning
• Treasure Your Memories
• Move Toward Your Grief and Heal

13. Recap of the Day
If you are only given 10 minutes to present the following
materials, how will you do that?
Group 1: Briefly introduce the verbal and non-verbal
communication skills
Group 2: What are the key elements of community-based
psychosocial activities?
Group 3: Briefly give the audience some tips when
providing PSS through hotline
Group 4: What are the three most important messages
related to loss and grief?