In a funeral or a memorial, grief is a natural emotion that will come to us when we think of the eternal physical separation from our loved ones. After living years together, the eternal separation in this lifetime is definitely painful to bear. Every individual response to grief and recovery period differs.
The bereaved family first experiences disbelief upon the death of the loved ones. At the state of numbness, they will follow through the whole funeral process being unable to mourn properly. Funerals are important for the bereaved family. It allows them the time and space to be together with their departed loved one. Eventually, they will come to terms with the passing which is important for them to overcome the grief.
After cremation / burying of the loved one, close support for the bereaved family is also a key factor that we should seek to have. Most of the time, it is loneliness that brings about the realisation of a void without the departed loved one. Hence, support from within the bereaved family and being together is important to cope with grief.
The first 7 to 21 days are crucial for the bereaved family to accept and overcome the loss. In the worst case scenario, medical conditions and suicidal thoughts may occur.
Family may seek professional counselling from the following charity organisations:
Samaritans of Singapore (SOS)
Helpline: 1800 221 4444 (24-hour toll-free line)
SOS provides a 24-hour crisis line service, which gives emotional support to people who are troubled. All calls to SOS are kept strictly confidential.
Care Corner Mandarin Counselling Centre
Hotline: 1800 353 5800 (10am to 10pm daily)
Care Corner Mandarin Counselling Centre provides counselling services in Mandarin, allowing individuals to share their problems in complete anonymity and strict confidentiality.
With pre-planning, we open up the big topic on death. It is a strong reminder to us that life is not eternal. We never know when it will end but we have absolute control to live a life and to create beautiful memories with our loved ones. At the very end, we want to leave behind a life worth celebrating for our loved ones. Does it mean that by not talking about death, you will live forever?
Read on to understand the Importance of Pre-Planning.
References:
https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/84/coping_with_bereavement
https://www.nea.gov.sg/our-services/after-death/post-death-matters/useful-links
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