FLOOD VICTIMS: Grief and Loss

[vmremember]

Australians are experiencing unprecedented 100year floods that seems to be more frequent than 100 years. It is a time in Australia where many people are impacted by the feelings of grief and loss of homes, personal possessions and loved ones.

When a flood event occurs, it involves the loss and damage of infrastructure of a community, and this creates anxiety and insecurity.

At the time of the event, people are in survival mode and busy dealing with the event. It is often after the event that the grief and loss become overwhelming for people and they may find themselves mourning the losses.

Worden (2009) discusses the four tasks of this mourning phase as the increased awareness of the reality of the loss, understanding the emotions being experienced by the individual, overcoming the barriers or readjustments after the loss and understanding how to maintain bonds with the loss or how to let it go – letting go of the loss. During this phase individuals will use a variety of methods to help them through this difficult time and the websites below may help you.

Griefline – http://www.griefline.com.au – has resources that you can access, you can participate in a forum, call the helpline or book a grief support call.

Beyondblue have information about grief and loss – https://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/grief-and-loss

Emerging minds have a community trauma toolkit that may help people – https://emergingminds.com.au/resources/toolkits/community-trauma-toolkit

No one has to experience their grief and loss alone. Remember to reach out for support when you are needing it during these difficult times.

Worden, W.J. (2009). Grief counseling and grief therapy : A
handbook for the mental health practitioner (4th ed.). New
York: Springer Publishing Company

• This topic was modified 2 years, 3 months ago by Louisa Smith.
• This topic was modified 2 years, 3 months ago by Louisa Smith.

Topic