Let’s talk about it. Coping with grief and loss in the diaspora was another vital discussion on Saturday. People within the community showed up and opened up with stories about how they cope with grief after losing their loved ones while they are thousands of miles away. A Lot was discussed, but I will just pick out some key moments.

What do you understand when one talks about grieving. The stages one goes through while grieving. What can the community do to help out those grieving loved ones and how can you as an individual do in such a low moment of grieving.

Psychologist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, in her book On Death and Dying, identifies five stages of grief, which include denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Modern research emphasizes that a person can experience the stages in any order, and people often fluctuate between the stages before finally reaching acceptance.

Once in this stage (acceptance), a person comes to terms with their new place and position in the world. This usually takes 3 to 6 months or even up to a year, but if an individual is locked into the grief or (depression stage) for a period exceeding one year, then they should seek mental health counseling.

Members at the meeting echoed that we should visit grievers and show support by buying them food and comforting them in their sorrowful state. (Though within the discussion, visiting mourners and expecting them to cook and provide food to you in their low state was ruled out.) It should be the other way around.

Also, putting community leaders on the spot as the only individuals to handle or take care of all issues related to those losing loved ones within the community was looked at as mean or unrealistic because they are also just members of the community but not community caretakers.
On this note, however, there was a view to identify volunteers within the community who would at least take that initiative and responsibility when those times call in.

📌 Key Points
Let us show care and be there for people.
Always be there for one another, especially during times of grief, bad health news etc
As a community of faith, we should not worry a lot about death. (John 17:16) it hurts at first when you lose someone close to you. Yet, we should not allow death to consume and rip us apart.

Do things you want most
📍Take walks
📍Read a book or novel
📍Ride a bike
📍Exercise
📍Visit friends
📍Listen to and dance to music
📍Attending places of worship
📍Meditating or taking vacations
All these were echoed at the meeting as coping mechanisms for nursing grief.

👉 Dr. Joan & Stella 👏👏
Community Mental Awareness.