More people need help with grief

Monday 13 December 2021

Covid-19 is leading to more people contacting the Guernsey Bereavement Service for help facing and overcoming grief.

The charity has been marking National Grief Awareness Week at the end of a year of increasing demand for its services.

"Amidst the ongoing pandemic, many people have experienced forms of grief, whether for lost loved ones, their job or the loss of their way of life before the many lockdowns," said Service Manager Liz Pirouet-Douglas.

A large heart of tea lights was made in the Sunken Gardens to close National Grief Awareness Week with a message that grief needs to be spoken about more openly and normalised. 

Pictured: The Guernsey Bereavement Service marked the end of National Grief Awareness Week with a candle-lit event at the Sunken Gardens.

"The week is dedicated to raising awareness of all aspects of grief and loss, " said Ms Pirouet-Douglas. "Grief is not just the bereavement for the loss of a loved one, but the sense of loss people experience at losing anything important to them.

"The Guernsey Bereavement Service has unfortunately seen a rise in clients seeking our help due to an increase in the number of sudden and traumatic deaths in Guernsey. This is coupled with covid-19 and the distress that this has brought - not being able to see loved ones, say final goodbyes or attend the funeral of a loved one."

The Service organised several events during National Grief Awareness Week as part of its efforts "to break taboos and normalise discussion around grief...and give people help in talking about grief and making it a more comfortable subject".

The Service's trained volunteers offer counselling to people who need emotional support to assist them through a period of grief.

"We can listen. We don't judge. Everything you say is confidential between you and your counsellor," said Ms Pirouet-Douglas.

"Grief is a tangled ball of emotions with denial being at the centre when someone dies, but there are so many other emotions we all go through, including abandonment, helplessness, anxiety, panic, depression, loneliness and betrayal to name a few.

"Everyone’s journey in grief is different and there are no right or wrong ways to grieve."