Grief Awareness Week 2022
Published on 07 December 2022 05:11 PM
What is Grief Awareness Week?
This week marks Grief Awareness Week 2022 to raise awareness of the impact of grief. While grief looks different for everybody, understanding how grief impacts us can help facilitate long-term healing.
As best-selling author and psychotherapist, Julia Samuel MBE, who wrote “Coping with Grief” says, “grief is profoundly misunderstood. It is so frightening, even alien, for many of us that we cannot find the words to voice it. This silence leads to an ignorance that can prevent us from responding to grief both in ourselves and in others.”
Watch Mireille Hayden, founder of Gentle Dusk interviewing the Julia Samuel about how we can heal after loss.
Planning Ahead
Understanding grief, advanced planning options, and the support available for those experiencing grief have positive benefits for both those receiving care and their families and loved ones.
Advanced care planning can:
- Improve end of life care for patients and families
- Reduce stress, anxiety, and depression for surviving relatives
- Ensure quick and well-informed decision-making in case individuals are no longer able to make decisions on their own
- Help start a healthy healing process for individuals experiencing grief.
Resources Available in Islington
- NHS funded Future Matters programme, run by Age UK Islington and Gentle Dusk provides free one-to-one guidance for Islington residents to set up Lasting Power of Attorney or Advanced Care Plans in addition to online information sessions and ‘Death Café' discussion groups.
- They have an online presentation ‘Wills & Lasting Powers of Attorney’ planned for Tues 7 February which you can book via Eventbrite. There is also a ‘Death Cafe’ discussion group taking place at the Almeida Theatre, bookable via Eventbrite on Friday 24 February.
More information: