On September 11th, 2009, Natalie Lynch’s life changed in an instant. Her husband of 22 years died by suicide at the age of 46. The shock was overwhelming. The trauma of that evening stayed with her, not just emotionally, but physically; manifesting as insomnia, dehydration from constant tears, and a rash that spread across her body. Her mind was in a constant state of fog.

 

Despite the unbearable grief, life demanded her attention. She was a mother supporting grieving children, a wife closing chapters, and a professional turning up to work each day with a shattered heart.

 

The questions never stopped: Why did this happen? How would they cope? Would her children ever recover?

 

Natalie had support from family, friends, and colleagues, but her inner world was noisy and relentless.

 

Then, one afternoon during a particularly difficult spell, she instinctively reached for something familiar – her art supplies. As an art teacher, creativity had always been part of her life. But that day, it became something more. As she began to create, she noticed her mind quieten. The pain didn’t vanish, but for the first time in weeks, she felt a moment of relief.

 

That experience became a turning point. Natalie began to understand the therapeutic value of creativity—not just as a hobby, but as a way to survive grief and nurture mental health. This realisation eventually led to a career shift. Today, she teaches Art Therapy to adults, encouraging others to find their own form of healing through creativity.

 

Natalie also volunteers with First Light, an organisation that supports young widowed people. Through this community, she’s able to reflect on how far she’s come and offer support to others facing unimaginable loss.

 

“Grief never really leaves,” she says. “It just changes shape. Even years later, the sadness is still there. But so is growth, connection, and purpose.”