Debi Richens, Emotional Resilience & Trauma Specialist

1. Understanding the
Impact of Grief & Loss
in the Workplace...

2. We all know that health matters,
and that we need to be relatively
physically fit to work well...
But, what about our emotional
health, and how does it impact
the workplace?

3. Brain trauma happens each
time we experience loss...
relationship/marriage
breakdown
loss of familial engagement
job loss
health loss
financial loss
This doesn't just relate to
bereavement, it also relates to
to name but a few...

4. Every experience of loss that we
have in life has an impact on our
brain, and in turn that impacts
our emotional and physical
capability to work effectively....
The effects of sustained trauma
in our lives causes damage
similar to the 'shrinking brain' of
Dementia...

5. Sustained trauma comes
from many emotional
situations in our lives...
Migraines
Stomach problems
Inability to think clearly
The standard of work diminishing
More mistakes than usual
More accidents than usual
This shows itself in health issues such
as -

6. In the Sue Ryder charity report "Grief in the workplace"*
published in June of this year they state...
"In the last year, 24% of the working population in Britain has
experienced a bereavement, which equates to around 7.9 million
people."
However, this doesn't take into account the hidden losses of
psychological and physical abuse, menopause, and the myriad of
psychological conditions that people live with on a daily basis...there are
NO accurate figures...

7. Sue Ryder's report continues...
"Only 30% of employees say the leadership of their organisation has
communicated with them about grief or bereavement in the past year,
and only 32% of employees are aware that their employer has a
bereavement policy in place."
The gross impact to the UK economy is an estimated £32 billion a year in
the lost Gross Value Added (GVA) and costs the UK Treasury an
estimated £8 billion in reduced tax revenues, increased healthcare costs
and income support payments.

8. There are over 40 different
types of loss that people
experience in life....
Many people won't mention
anything at all unless it is an
immediate family member's
death
There is fear of judgment or
criticism of the situation they
may find themselves in

9. The Covid pandemic has had a
huge effect on people
countrywide...
Bereavement, singular or
plural
Long term health issues as
a result of catching the
virus
Long term health issues as
a result of not being
diagnosed in good time

10. Family breakdown has a huge
impact on the workplace...
Parents find themselves
fighting a fruitless fight to
have a relationship with their
children
Days off work because of court
hearings
False allegations involving the
police - disruption

11. Another side of family breakdown
is the loss to grandparents and
other relatives...
Older workers may be living
with the effects of
estrangement and
alienation which changes
everything about being part
of a family...

12. Being emotionally honest is something we
are not taught...your employees may well be
doing their best to hide their emotions...

13. In the Mind Matters report of May
2021** Mind Matters outline the
extent of the mental health
challenges that we are facing
globally...
This study is based on self-
reported figures collated in
2019...there was at that time, an
annual rise between 6% and 5%
from 2013.
Since the pandemic, this figure
has risen even more sharply.

14. Staff turnover - accounts for approx
11% - 13%, £6,387-£9,581 million
annually
Presenteeism - £47,880 - £57,001
million annually
Absenteeism - an average of 4.4 days
a year, annual cost £4,508 - £5,613
million annually
all have risen dramatically since the
pandemic
In the Mind Matters report of May 2021**
they go on to report the cost of mental
health issues to the UK employer...

15. On a professional level, I’m an Advanced Grief
Recovery Specialist (both online & in-person),
certified Grief Recovery Military & First Responder
(qualified to deliver extended PTSD & Trauma
support) & trained in Suicide Prevention, and Brain
Trauma Recovery.
On a personal level, I grew up in a single-parent
family, estranged from my father, and have suffered
close familial bereavement, loss, and alienation. In
short, I understand what it’s like to feel emotionally
bereft, disconnected & heartbroken.
What makes me
qualified?

16. I teach an evidence-based programme that has been
running worldwide for over 40 years.
The Grief Recovery Method Programme*** has helped
people all over the world to move beyond bereavement,
divorce and other losses.
After completion of the programme the most frequently reported
coping behaviours that participants were less likely to engage in
were:
nicotine use
misuse of prescription drugs
illicit drug use
overeating
alcohol abuse
gambling
How can I help?

17. After completion of the programme the behaviours participants were
more likely to engage in were:
exercise
sleeping
meditation
prayer
The Grief Recovery Method functions as a
primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention
public health programme.
It becomes a lifelong practice using practical
powerful empowering tools.
How does it help?

18. “Debi is a great listener and provides very
astute and relevant advice and
recommendations.
She is understanding and compassionate, a
consummate professional. I have already
recommended her to friends and colleagues.”
Helen Sewell
ACMA CGMA

19. Catriona was surprised at how "simple and effective" the tools
were - she was expecting to be overwhelmed with emotion.
It was the "most efficient way of dealing with complex emotions
that she had experienced."
That the process "taught her how to connect to her emotions
fully."
That "completing the unspoken communication in the
relationship had been hugely freeing, and that with the death of
an Uncle, she had found a new way of speaking emotionally
with her mother."
Caitriona Ellis
Achieve Financial Wellness
in 90 Days

20. It means that I have the expertise
and experience to help people move
from a place of heartbreak, loss, or
grief (a conflicting emotion
following the end or change of a
familiar pattern of behaviour), to one
of peaceful calm and joyful
acceptance.
I help people create space for new
dreams.
About Me
What does this mean?

21. By using a combination of
knowledge, skill, and life
experience to help people
understand their loss (whatever it
may be), release the things that
are causing them anguish, and
move them forward in a calm
and positive way.
How do I do that?

22. I am non-judgemental, caring & compassionate. In
fact, people say if I were a stick of rock, you could cut
me open & there’d be ‘compassion’ written all the
way through!
In short, I’ve been where these people are now which
means I understand in a way that only someone
who's been through similar experiences can
understand.
When working with me people can expect kindness,
empathy, discretion, and the utmost
professionalism.
What am I like to
work with?

23. LinkedIn
Facebook
Book a free 45 min
Clarity call
If you would
like to know
more...

24. *Sue Ryder report - click the link - then scroll to just below the image on their page.
**Information taken from Mind Matters Ltd report published May 2021
Credits
***Grief Recovery evidence-based research:
Measurement Development and Validation for Construct Validity of the Treatment: The Grief Recovery
Method® Instrument (GRM-I) http://bit.ly/39Syzl0
Construct Validity of the Theory of Grief Recovery (TOGR): A New Paradigm Toward Our Understanding
of Grief and Loss http://bit.ly/2QrFhq9