This week is Mental Health Awareness Week and it is unique this year because of the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic. I think we can all agree that we have witnessed the very best of human kindness and compassion around the world as we all try to find the best path through this worldwide disaster. Now, more than ever, we realise the importance of protecting our emotion and mental health just as vigorously as we are protecting our physical health against the virus.
Please take a moment to watch this video.
Grief can have a real detrimental impact on our emotional and mental health. When we first lose our child there are the immediate raw emotions of the shock and disbelief of them dying, then the process of having to learn to live without them begins. We go through a myriad of emotions and feelings ~ deep sadness and depression, denial and disbelief, numbness, panic ad confusion, anger but the most important thing to remember is that there is no right or wrong way to feel when we lose our child. For some people, it can be weeks or months later before they allow themselves to ‘feel’ or face their emotions. Some people take comfort in talking to others, over the phone, face to face, or on social media. Some people keep their thoughts and feelings to themselves and prefer to cope with their loss quietly and privately.
There is no right or wrong
Above all, it is so important to be kind., and that is why this year’s Topic for Mental Health Awareness Week is a timely and vital message. If someone is very public about their loss and talks about it a lot ~ be kind and let them. If someone is very private about the death of their child and does not want to share ~ be kind and let them. If someone finds certain days, weeks or months of the year difficult and needs to focus on their child’s death ~ be kind and let them.
Many do struggle to know what to say to a bereaved parent, sibling or grandparent ~ what all our families tell us is that even if someone says “I’m sorry, I don’t know what to say, but I’m thinking of you” that can be so uplifting and comforting.
“I’m sorry, I don’t know what to say, but I’m thinking of you”
The following is a brilliant conversation between Fife Bereavement Network Group members Nicola Reed (Cruse Bereavement Care Scotland), Jenifer Wilson (Step By Step Project), David Irvine (The Compassionate Friends) and Jen Somerville (Child Bereavement UK ~ Jen kindly spoke at our Scottish Parliament event in 2019) discussing how they help support Mental Health and Wellbeing following bereavement.
#DyingToBeHeard #DyingMattersAwarenessWeek #EveryDeathMatters #FifeBereavementNetwork
We would be delighted if you could share your #KindnessStories with us ~ what kindnesses helped you in your grief?
There are some wonderful #KindnessStories here ~ https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/campaigns/mental-health-awareness-week/kindness-stories