Grief

Grief can be a cause of school distress (Meredith et al., 2023; Ingul et al., 2019; Archer et al., 2003; Kearney, 2008). 

Grief is a loss that follows any event that causes a major life change (Cleveland Clinic, 2024). This will unsettle and cause a loss of connection and our feelings of stability and normalcy will be unbalanced (Cleveland Clinic, 2024)

Grief may occur when any of the following losses happen:

• death or loss of a friend, family member, partner or pet

• breakdown of a marriage, friendship or community

• loss of a home, neighbourhood or community

• job or career

• financial stability

• dreams or goals

• good health

• youth

• fertility

(Adapted from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24787-grief)

Types of Grief include:

• Anticipatory grief

  • this is grief that occurs before a loss e.g. having a terminal medical diagnosis in yourself or a whānau member

• Abbreviated grief

  • you may grieve quickly because you have already anticipated grief or you move quickly through the grief process

• Delayed grief

  • this may mean you experience grief days, weeks or months after the loss has occurred. This may be the result of being busy dealing with the logistics or responsibilities associated with the loss you have experienced

• Cumulative grief

  • working through multiple losses at once. 

• Collective grief

  • Major events like wars, natural disasters, school issues and pandemics create loss and change our sense of normalcy. 

Please read the information page on the website linked below for a thorough understanding of grief.