*Content warning: mature themes - listener discretion advised*

When someone is grieving the death of a loved one, it can be difficult to know how to approach them and what to say. How do you convey your compassion, your awareness of their enormous loss? What words and actions are helpful to the person grieving, and what is unhelpful or perhaps even harmful?

Colin Campbell, author of 'Finding the words', shares a practical and helpful approach to supporting someone in their grief, how to move through sorrow and profound loss with hope and purpose, and why there is a vital need for community during the grieving process.

Topics in this episode:
The loss of a child
Suicide
How to support someone in their deep sorrow - what to say, what not to say
"I have no words" ends any chance of a dialogue about grief. Find the words.
The evolution of grief, and of the grieving person's identity within that sorrow
The importance of engaging with and accepting grief, rather than avoiding it
Grief as a sensitive, taboo subject further isolates those in mourning
Why trying to comfort a grieving person is not helpful
Different societal/religious responses to grief, traditional mourning processes, and cultural tools and rules for managing grief in community. Of particular note:  

Jewish mourning traditions: Mourning Kaddish, Shiva ,and Ending Shiva
Māori mourning ceremony - Tangihanga
What Losing My Two Children Taught Me About Grief - The Atlantic
Viktor Frankl 'Mans Search for Meaning'
Adoption (and the trauma and grief that can accompany it)
In Memory of Logan

For help:
Lifeline: 13 11 14
Suicide Callback Service: 1300 659 467
Mensline Australia: 1300 789 987
Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800
Standby - Support After Suicide 1300 727 247



Find us on Facebook at Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families

Email us your questions and comments at podcasts@happyfamilies.com.au

*Content warning: mature themes - listener discretion advised*
When someone is grieving the death of a loved one, it can be difficult to know how to approach them and what to say. How do you convey your compassion, your awareness of their enormous loss? What words and actions are helpful to the person grieving, and what is unhelpful or perhaps even harmful?
Colin Campbell, author of '<a href="https://colincampbellauthor.com/finding-the-words/">Finding the words</a>', shares a practical and helpful approach to supporting someone in their grief, how to move through sorrow and profound loss with hope and purpose, and why there is a vital need for community during the grieving process.
Topics in this episode:
<ul>
<li>The loss of a child</li>
<li>Suicide</li>
<li>How to support someone in their deep sorrow - what to say, what not to say</li>
<li>"I have no words" ends any chance of a dialogue about grief. Find the words.</li>
<li>The evolution of grief, and of the grieving person's identity within that sorrow</li>
<li>The importance of engaging with and accepting grief, rather than avoiding it</li>
<li>Grief as a sensitive, taboo subject further isolates those in mourning</li>
<li>Why trying to comfort a grieving person is not helpful</li>
<li>Different societal/religious responses to grief, traditional mourning processes, and cultural tools and rules for managing grief in community. Of particular note:  
<ul>
<li>Jewish mourning traditions: <a href="https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/text-of-the-mourners-kaddish/">Mourning Kaddish</a>, <a href="https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/shiva-customs/">Shiva</a> ,and <a href="https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/ending-shiva/">Ending Shiva</a></li>
<li>Māori mourning ceremony - <a href="https://teara.govt.nz/en/tangihanga-death-customs/page-1">Tangihanga</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/03/how-to-talk-about-grief-support/673232/">What Losing My Two Children Taught Me About Grief - The Atlantic</a> </li>
<li>Viktor Frankl '<a href="https://www.dymocks.com.au/book/mans-search-for-meaning-by-viktor-e-frankl-9781846041242">Mans Search for Meaning'</a></li>
<li>Adoption (and the trauma and grief that can accompany it)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.happyfamilies.com.au/articles/in-memory-of-logan">In Memory of Logan</a></li>
</ul>
For help:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.lifeline.org.au/" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.lifeline.org.au/">Lifeline</a>: 13 11 14</li>
<li><a href="https://www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au/" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au/">Suicide Callback Service</a>: 1300 659 467</li>
<li><a href="https://mensline.org.au/" data-cke-saved-href="https://mensline.org.au/">Mensline Australia</a>: 1300 789 987</li>
<li><a href="https://kidshelpline.com.au/" data-cke-saved-href="https://kidshelpline.com.au/">Kids Helpline</a>: 1800 55 1800</li>
<li><a href="https://standbysupport.com.au/" data-cke-saved-href="https://standbysupport.com.au/">Standby - Support After Suicide</a> 1300 727 247</li>
</ul>
 
Find us on Facebook at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/happyfamilies.au/" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.facebook.com/happyfamilies.au/">Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families</a>
Email us your questions and comments at <a href="mailto:podcasts@happyfamilies.com.au" data-cke-saved-href="mailto:podcasts@happyfamilies.com.au">podcasts@happyfamilies.com.au</a>

The Happy families podcast with Dr. Justin Coulson is designed for the time poor parent who just wants answers now. Every day Justin and his wife Kylie provide practical tips and a common sense approach to parenting that Mums and Dads all over the world are connecting with. Justin and Kylie have 6 daughters and they regularly share their experiences of managing a busy household filled with lots of challenges and plenty of happiness. For real and practicable advice from people who understand and appreciate the challenges of a time poor parent, listen to Justin and Kylie and help make your family happier.

The Happy families podcast with Dr. Justin Coulson is designed for the time poor parent who just wants answers now.

Advertisement