Bereavement Counselling Service Carers Association

1. Bereavement Counselling ServiceCarers Association  Coping with Life�s Losses �Finding your Own Path�  Dr John Sharry, Dept of Child Psychiatry Mater Hospital Dublin. Parents Plus Charity

2. The Meaning of Loss Experience of loss is universal human experience If we care for someone or something then we are prone to experience loss The very nature of love means that we will experience loss Bereavment or the loss of a loved one is the probably the greatest of all losses we will have to experience

3. The Importance of Grief Grief is the process by which we deal with loss

4. Models of Grief Stages of grief model A) Denial/ shock B) Anger C) Bargaining D) Depression E) Acceptance

5. The Process of Grief Grief can be conceived as a journey of healing, from initial state of loss/ despair and chaos to acceptance/ integration/ meaning The starting and finishing point are unique to each person The pathway and journey are also unique

6. The Process of Grief Goal is to decrease sense of Denial/ despair/ meaningless/ loss of function � And to increase sense of Acceptance/ meaning/ hope/ integration

7. The Process of Grief People deal with loss differently People have very different timing People need different types of support

8. Acceptance/ Integration  Remembering Reorganising Meaning/ Integration

9. What carers can do? Acknowledge name and listen to despair and upset Express care (words and deeds) Express hope (words and deeds) �you can do hope without feeling hope� (Weingarten 2000) Encourage support seeking for person (in community, in family, from counselling)

10. The role of counselling Counselling provides a companion on the journey of grief, someone who can help you clarify where you want to go and act as a guide to the territory of grief

11. If you are Grieving or Dealing with Loss COMPASSION (be kind and accepting to yourself, seek support) CHOICE ( you have a choice about how you respond to your loss)

12. �Working Things Out� 

13. �Working Things Out�  Interactive DVD that tells the story of ten young people who have overcome depression and other problems. Designed to be used as an educational resource in schools and clinics in Ireland Clinical Developed by Eileen Brosnan, Prof Carol Fitzpatrick, Dr John Sharry at the Mater Hospital Dublin. www.parentsplus.ie

14. Background �Challenging Times� study 1999-2002 Set out to determine rates of psychiatric disorders and suicidal behaviours in adolescents aged 13-15 years in north Dublin Involved 723 adolescents pupils in 8 post-primary schools

15. Background Involved screening questionnaires and an adolescent and parent interview 15% adolescents had a current psychiatric disorder 4.5% had a current depressive disorder 1.9% had significant past suicidal ideation 1.5% had attempted suicide Lynch F, Mills C, Daly I, Fitzpatrick C. (2004) Journal of Adolescence, 27: 441 � 451.Lynch F, Mills C, Daly I, Fitzpatrick C. (2005) Journal of Adolescence, epub ahead of print

16. Background Identified 18 adolescents who had experienced a depressive disorder within the previous two years, who had not had formal support, but were now well What had helped them to recover? These adolescents, along with a clinical group, engaged in interviews and focus groups to share with us their experiences of what had helped them to recover From these focus groups emerged the idea of making something to help other adolescents going through �tough times� . 14 adolescents participated in making �Working Things Out�

17. Background To facilitate a therapeutic story telling experience creatively, using digital media To help other adolescents who might be going through experiences similar to their own Stories are told from strengths-based perspective of what helped them to get through their �tough times�.

18. Overview of Content 10 stories, 1 song, 3 � 4 minutes each Text includes further information, link sites and professional points CD / DVD comes with manual for professionals using Working Things Out with young people

19. Overview of Content Cover topics such as depression, berereavment, self-harm, anxiety, self-harm, bullying etc. The main message from all the stories is one of telling someone how they were feeling, getting help, and things that the young people did to help themselves

20. Susan�s Story Susan�s brother died by suicide five years previously Susan had become depressed herself and could not talk to anyone about. She felt suicidal herself Eventually, with the help of a friend she got help This is her story

21. Cherokee Story An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. "A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy. "It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is anger, resentment and bitterness. The other is acceptance, peace, and forgiveness. The same fight is going on inside you - and inside every other person, too.� The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?" The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."