Change, grief and loss

Everyone is affected by change and loss at some time in our lives.

Grief is the natural emotional response to the loss of someone close, such as a family member or friend. Grief is usually described in relation to the death of a loved one, but other types of major loss can also lead to feelings of grief. The more significant a loss, the more intense grief may be.

People may feel grief over:

• the death of a loved one
• divorce or separation
• the loss of a beloved pet
• giving up something that mattered
• work or school changes — for example, retirement or retrenchment, or moving schools
• the diagnosis of a terminal illness
• the loss of good health because of an illness, accident or disability
• moving away or separation from family or friends
• having an ‘empty nest’ when children leave home

Grief is a process or journey that affects everyone differently and has no set pattern. It is expressed differently across different cultures. It can be exhausting and emotionally draining. For some people, it can make it hard to do simple things or even leave the house, while other people cope by becoming more active. Some people like to be expressive and public with their emotions, while others like to keep their feelings private.

Grief often involves intense sadness, and sometimes feelings of shock and numbness, or even denial and anger. For most people, the intensity of grief eases over time and the episodes of grief become less frequent.

At Carroll College we recognise that when changes occur, such as separation, divorce, death, school transitions and natural disasters, children may benefit from learning the skills to manage these changes effectively. If you feel your child would benefit from further support around grief and loss through counselling at school, please contact their pastoral coordinator to discuss, or you can email the school counsellors directly:

Faith.costigan@mccg.org.au

Naomi.bee@mccg.org.au