Learning how to deal with loss

Learning how to deal with loss

The University of Queensland has introduced a unique post-graduate course to help professionals cope with one of modern society's oldest psychological challenges and one that is leading to more and more social stress - the sense of loss.

The program conducted by the Department of Social and Preventative Medicine is believed to be the only one of its type in Australia. It began this year to meet a demand for early intervention in dealing with loss and grief caused not only by death and chronic illness, but unemployment, marriage breakdowns and many other losses.

Dr Judith Murray, lecturer and Stream Co-ordinator in the Loss and Grief Stream of the Graduate Health Studies Program, said the course had been well received by police, emergency workers, teachers, psychologists, palliative care workers, nurses, social workers, guidance officers and other peer supporters.

She said there was growing recognition of the link between loss and common social problems such as criminal behaviour and psychopathology.

"We tend to associate feelings of grief with death; however a child may experience a great sense of loss in the case of a marriage breakdown. A young person who is retrenched may suddenly feel totally without control of his life," she said. "Without appropriate support, feelings of loss and grief can lead to significant distress and perhaps, it has been suggested, to criminal or anti-social behaviour."

Dr Murray said the program was strongly focused on early intervention, but did address issues in counselling.

"The community needs to understand more about loss and grief so as to be able to acknowledge people's pain and to help them cope and ?grow' personally from the experience," she said.

The University of Queensland was named Australian University of the Year in 1998 and is a recognised leader in medical and health-related research and teaching.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Judith Murray telephone 3240 7221