Grieving and Dying

When death of a loved ones occurs suddenly, grieving sets in in people who are left behind by the deceased, be they children, teens, young adults or old adults. Grieving has no discrimination or respect for anyone.

Grieving has also been discovered to be general in nature as it occurs in all cultures across the world. Excessive grieving is very devastating and disastrous as complications may set in if not well handled and managed.

This is what now leads me into seeking assistance for the grieving by professional practitioners called chaplains:

Chaplains are best suited to provide needed care and support for the grieving. In providing needed care and support for the grieving, practicing chaplains will need to give considerations to the following conditions and situations grieving people are passing through due to sudden death or loss of properties and finances, namely:-

1.     Isolation: Usually, people are created to live together with one another; but when death occurs, the survivors are thrown into isolation, which makes them to capitalize on negativity, sometimes blame God for their predicaments and may also end their lives, bringing up another tragedy.

Chaplains have the responsibility of standing with the grieving in their situations, providing needed care services and support that the grieving are not isolated but rather people around them to prevent negative thought.

2.     Loneliness: Loneliness is very similar to isolation and the grieving should enjoy the company of sympathizers, relations, and chaplains must provide the needed ministry of presence amongst other care services.

3.     Coping Capacity: People have different coping capacities exhibited during trauma and sudden deaths. Professional chaplains should be available to help such people to develop needed coping capacity and be assisted to go through the difficult situations without destroying themselves or complicating the problems or develop a kind of sickness that may remain with them for the remaining part of their lives.

4.     Feeling of Hopelessness and Becoming Hopeless: Professional chaplains have a duty to rekindle hopes in the hopeless grieving people; directing them to the source of life who is the sure hope of all people no matter their conditions and situations.

5.     A Feeling of an End the Suddenly Set in: The grieving will normally feel that the end has suddenly come which may lead them to wanting commit suicide. They need the support and assistance from professional chaplains for a reassurance that the end has not come but at the end of the tunnel, there is bright light.

Chaplains are in the position of providing resilience for the grieving in the discharge of their professional duties and chaplaincy care delivery. In caring for the grieving, it has been discovered that support groups are very essential for they help in the process of healing and recovery such as:-

·        Children support group.

·        Teens/adolescent support group.

·        Youth support group.

·        Young adult support group.

·        Older adult support group.

The grieving surely benefit from their age group support as there are people to tell their own stories, sharing experiences with others to enable them navigate through the difficult situation unhurt.

Chaplains who have undergone the CCPE or CPE study programme and are certified will know how to handle grieving and bereavement and as well how to set up support groups.

Are you interested in online professional chaplaincy training to enable you offer beneficial chaplaincy care and services, get registered at the prestigious chaplaincy institute – Prodam-J Chaplaincy Institute for adequate and proper professional chaplaincy education and training to make you outstanding among your equals? Call 08033072375; 07055287861; 08035092416 or WhatsApp – +2349050323309

Chap. David Mike-Jacobs CPC, CPST, BCC.

Professor of Anthropology, Certified Chaplaincy Educator & Trainer.

Blog: thechaplain1.blogspot.com

21^st Oct, AD2022