Supporting People Facing Loss: Understanding Grief and Its Mediators

This presentation explores the complex nature of grief, examining various theories and models that attempt to explain the grieving process. It delves into the Kubler-Ross model, outlining its five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. The presentation also introduces the seven mediators of grief proposed by J.W. Worden, which provide a framework for understanding the factors that influence an individual's grieving experience. These mediators include the relationship with the deceased, the nature of the death, and the individual's personal history and support system. By understanding these theories and mediators, we can gain valuable insights into the grieving process and develop more effective strategies for supporting individuals facing loss.

Supporting people facing loss

INTRODUCTION
• Loss : reflects a condition where a specific event is responsible for an individual’s altered
communication and interactions skills socially and mentally (Jewel and blackmore, 2004)
• In addition, failure to achieve a particular aim or deprivation of anything which is close / dear is loss.
• Loss can be: physical loss or abstract loss
• Physical loss is the loss which can be touch, felt or measured e.g. death of loved one
• Abstract loss is broadly associated to social links
• Grief is a emotional natural suffering to any loss which is expressed either physically or psychologically
(wright, 2009)
• It depends on personal experience, cultural environment and spiritual believes of an individual and is
unique in its own sense
• Loss can be necessary, actual, perceived, maturational, situational
• Grief can be normal, anticipatory, complicated, disenfranchised (Hume, 2008)
• This presentation includes theories of grief and one of the mediators of grief as presented by Worden

GRIEF THEORY
• There are many theories guided and proposed after Sigmaund Freud who is known to be pioneer in
this field
• These theories basically includes “letting go” and “moving on” concept to overcome grief reactions
• Some theories are : kubler – ross model, stages and phases, task for bereaved, dual process model,
continuing bonds, families making sense of death etc
• Kubler – ross model or five stage of grief theory state the ways which help an individual to move on
inspite of loss (Hall, 2011)x
• These five stages of grief are : denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance (Kubler ross and
kesseler, 2009)

• Introduced by J W worden
• Enhances person ability to cope up with grief by
increasing understanding regarding loss (Worden,
2018)
• First mediator: who was the person who died was
• Second mediator : the attachment that survivor had
with the deceased
• Third mediator : how the person died
• Fourth mediator : appreciating survivors history
• Fifth mediator : individual taste in those bereaved
• Sixth mediator : social support
• seventh mediator : concurrent stress
THE SEVEN MEDIATORS OF GRIEF

FIRST MEDIATOR OF MOURNING
• The very first mediator states about who the person died was
• It basically identifies the relationship of affected individual and person deceased such as
spouse, parent, friend etc
• Value of the relationship
• Was it close relationship or distant relationship
• Time spend in the relationship by the survivor and deceased
• Dependency in the relationship
• Conflicts (both history and last days conflicts) with the deceased which at times may bring
guilt to the survivor

CONCLUSION
• There are various theories developed explaining grief
• Kubler – ross model or five stages of grief theory explains the ways in which
survivor can move on in life after experiencing any loss
• There are seven mediators of grief presented by J W Worden which help in better
understanding of loss
• These definitely helping in enhancing coping behavior of survivor

REFERENCES
• Jewell, P. and Blackmore, P., 2004. Loss and grief. From Strength to Strength: A Manual for
Professionals Who Facilitate Diverse Parent Groups, p.104.
• Raphael, B. and Delaney, P., 2011. Loss and grief. Grief Matters: The Australian Journal of
Grief and Bereavement, 14(3), p.67.
• Wright, B., 2009. Loss and grief. primary health care, 19(1).
• Hume, C., 2008. Loss and grief. Occupational Therapy and Mental Health, p.383.
• Hall, C., 2011. Beyond Kubler-Ross: recent developments in our understanding of grief and
bereavement. InPsych: The Bulletin of the Australian Psychological Society Ltd, 33(6), p.8.
• Kubler-Ross, E. and Kessler, D., 2009. The five stages of grief. Retrieved from world wide
web November, 3, p.2009.
• Worden, J.W., 2018. Grief counseling and grief therapy: A handbook for the mental health
practitioner. springer publishing Company.

FURTHER READING
• Bonanno, G.A. and Kaltman, S., 2001. The varieties of grief experience. Clinical
psychology review, 21(5), pp.705-734.
• Kübler-Ross, E. and Kessler, D., 2005. On grief and grieving: Finding the meaning
of grief through the five stages of loss. Simon and Schuster.
• Rando, T.A. ed., 1986. Parental loss of a child. Research PressPub.
• Odean, K., 2015. LOSS AND GRIEF. Teacher Librarian, 42(3), p.43.
• Humphrey, K.M., 2009. Counseling strategies for loss and grief. Alexandria, VA:
American Counseling Association.
• Breyer, J., Sanfeliz, A., Cieurzo, C.E. and Meyer, E.A., 2006. Loss and grief.
Comprehensive handbook of childhood cancer and sickle cell disease: A
biopsychosocial approach, pp.35-52.