Grief and Loss Circle

Anal Shah's son was 15 years old, when he developed a sudden fever and after a struggle of 20 days, died of multi-organ failure on 27th June 2017. She still struggles with her grief and wrote this heart wrenching note 20 months after his death. To all those who persistently feel I should MOVE ON after my child's death! It seems that my face reminds you of your own mortality. What if something similar happened to your child or your family member? What if you have to endure pain like me? That…

Nothing prepares you for the loss of a parent, even in adulthood. On the first anniversary of her mother's death, Shweta talks of coming to terms with the loss as she reminisces about the year gone by. Last May, one ugly morning, we all woke up to a new reality. My ma, who had been living life full of vitality till the previous night, decided not to wake up. In just a few minutes, a seismic shift had altered our lives forever. The first several weeks, and months, and on random days without…

Losing someone to suicide can be traumatic. Nyana Sabharwal, who lost her mother to suicide, co-founded We Hear You, a support group for those bereaved by suicide loss, as an important way to heal, cope and overcome grief. You have set up a unique and distinct peer support group for those bereaved by suicide loss. Could you tell us a little about it? ‘We Hear You’ was set up a year ago to help people who are experiencing bereavement by suicide loss to have a safe space to talk about their…

Caregivers of persons with dementia are often unsure how to talk about the loss of a family member or friend. Porrselvi A.P., a cognitive and psychosocial interventions specialist shares tips on how to break the news and how to help the person with dementia deal with the news. Supporting a person with dementia who is grieving the death of someone close to them cope with the loss is challenging for many caregivers. Often, in the daily grind of caring for a person with dementia we forget that…

...Life is precious - life is worth living."  reminds Yen-Lu Chow. When their son and only child Lawrence Chow ended his own life at the age of 26 after suffering for many years from manic depression, Yen-Lu Chow and his wife Yee Ling went beyond grieving and coping with the tragedy. They involved themselves in mental health initiatives in Singapore which have, in turn, given them a purpose in their lives. Tell us about your mental health initiatives in Singapore. Mental wellness is not…

We prepare ourselves for everything, but most of us are in denial about death. Aparna Das shares the one final lesson her father taught her during his last few days as he breathed his last. My father was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer in October 2017. Of course, he and all of us did everything in our capacity to save him. But he passed away on the 20th of April 2018. The three days leading to his death were probably the most painful that our family had faced collectively. But I have a…

A loss of a child is unimaginable. Different people try to cope with it in different ways. Deepa and Jacob K Joy set up the Asawari Music Foundation in memory of their daughter Asawari, who was a musical talent herself. Deepa Jacob talks about the Trust, grief and how she has coped with the loss of her child. Please tell us what led to Asawari Musical Foundation being set up? Asawari Music Foundation was set up to remember my daughter Asawari who passed away when she was 15. She was suffering…

Loss of a loved one especially after an extended period of caregiving can result in complicated expressions of grief.  Dr. V. Sridhar, consultant psychiatrist, Dementia Care and Nirupama Natarajan, Psychologist from SCARF (DEMCARES), Chennai talk about a caregiver's grief and the healthy ways to grieve. At some point in our lives, we are expected to undergo the loss of a loved one, while at other times we extend support to our friends and relatives who have experienced a…

When a child is diagnosed with a rare disease, it is most agonising and traumatic for parents, especially because they are left alone and helpless. Shital Bhatkar, whose son Aarya succumbed to Niemann-Pick Disease, narrates her long, harrowing time trying to save her son and the need to include rare diseases in public health policies. When my son, Aarya, was born, my husband and I considered ourselves blessed. We had two beautiful kids now – a daughter and a son and felt our family was complete…

Ever struggled to figure out what you can do or say to someone grieving the loss of a dear family member or friend. Here is a useful guide on how you can help someone coping with grief and bereavment. If you have other suggestions or experiences please do share by leaving a comment below