Viewing Volume 6 Issue 3 Autumn 2003
Conference Report:- 5th September 2003
An oasis in a busy city is hard to find. Built 160 years ago this tranquil 8-acre hideaway greeted 90 delegates interested in thanatology. A warm sunny day welcomed the speakers and delegates to the 10th Annual Bereavement & Loss Conference on September 5th at G.M.B. College, Manchester. The topic of the day was ‘Personal Traumas’.
We all experience loss and bereavement at some time in our lives. There is no way we can avoid this. Our keynote speaker, Professor J.D. Morgan introduced us to ‘cultural needs of grieving in the community’. A culture is composed of the ideals by which people live. We naturally tend to believe that everyone shares the basic ideals and values that we do; however that is not the case. Effective care of the bereaved requires knowledge of the person in their physical, social, educational and spiritual levels of being, that is, in their individuality. He illustrated the meaning of culture, how cultures differ, how decisions are made, and how cultural differences may affect decisions on providing bereavement support.
Peter Saunders from the National Association of People Abused in Childhood spoke about the loss of ones childhood and ones identity following abusive experiences in a child’s early years. He addressed how bereavement and loss as an adult may trigger painful childhood memories and the problems of ‘circumstantial losses surrounding abuse’. His courage and disclosure was greatly appreciated and acknowledged by the delegates.
Rose Dixon from Support After Murder and Manslaughter looked at ‘why support is an essential part of grieving’. Especially because of the effects that stress has on the mental capacity of the bereaved to retain information. Families need support to cope with police, coroners and formalities following a traumatic bereavement.
Keith Jenkinson from Sunrise Trust spoke about ‘men’s grief – containing the chaos’. He argued that patterns of grieving are influenced, rather than determined by gender. And that many bereaved fathers experience a sense of chaos as they struggle with many aspects of their grief. He explored the male journey of grief, paying particular attention to bereaved fathers.
After a wonderful sit down meal, in such ambient surroundings, squirrels across the lawns, the buzz of networking, it was on to the second half of the day.
Professor O.B. Eden, (Paediatric Oncologist) spoke about how ‘the impact of diagnosis relates to the models of loss’. How the diagnosis of cancer or leukaemia produces high stresses and strains and how his group have identified considerable post traumatic stress symptomology, tremendous feelings of loss.
Dr. James Kuykendall illustrated ‘the conceptual dynamics related to marginalisation of families living with HIV’. How on a macro level, social and cultural ostracisation can follow; additionally other co factors can precipitate nuclear or extended family disconnection.
Ann Jones from Roadpeace eloquently addressed ‘influences on interventions for the bereaved’. How the ripples that spread outwards from a road crash where there is death or serious injury, impacts on grief. And that the ‘system’ can hinder people in processing what has happened.
Our last but not least speaker of the day was Eric Norbury, who reflected movingly on his trip to New York for the first anniversary. He considered the ‘effects on the rescuers and their families following the disaster on 9/11/01’.
Essentially the content of the day highlighted the importance of social support for the bereaved. Social support is about being there with the grieving person, the very nature of humanity. The day provided comprehensive resources on the dynamics of grief and practical guidance for those working with the bereaved. It was a full, well-balanced overview of ‘Personal Traumas’.
By:A.T.
Conference Evaluation Statistics for 5th September 2003
1. Where did you find the conference advertised?
Flyer 64%, MABF 20%, Newsletter 8%, Advert 8%
2. How satisfactory was the information you received ?
Excellent 4%, Very Good 38%, Good 40%, Average 18%
3. How pleased were you with the overall management of the day?
Excellent 38%, Very Good 58%, Good 4%, Average 0%
4. How satisfactory were the speakers?
Excellent 60%, Very Good 35%, Good 5%, Average 0%
5. Do you agree with the format of the day?
Yes 99% No 1%
6. What did you like most about the day?
Speakers 64%, Personal Experiences 10%, Networking 20%, Topics 6%
7. What did you least like about the day?
Nothing 61%, Speakers 2%, Long Day 8%, Too short 8%, Food 2% Chairs 16%, Expensive 2%, microphones 1%,
8. How did you find the venue, facilities and catering in general?
Excellent 32%, Very Good 52%, Good 16%, Average 0%
9. Is there a topic you would like addressed in the future?
Men & Grief – Cultural – Sudden Death – Children – Networking – Risk Assessment – Spirituality – Suicide – Disaster – Trauma – Neonatal Deaths – Older People – Process of Grief – Funeral Rituals.
Previous Conference Topics for last 5 years were:
2002 Children’s Grief
2001 Bereavement in Later Life.
2000 Professional and Personal Issues.
1999 Challenges of Bereavement into the 21st Century.
1998 Aspects of Family Grief.
If anyone has heard amusing, interesting speakers they think would be an asset, let the office know please.
By:A.T.
ROADPEACE
A service at St. Peter’s, Belmont will be held @ 3.00pm on Sunday 16th November 2003.
The service will be led by Rev’d David Jones & Rev’d Mike Thomason.
Roadpeace services are held at churches and other venues up and down the country. They are special services held on the World Day of Remembrance for Road Crash Victims, which is always the 3rd Sunday in November. The services are open to people of all faiths or none, and are intended to remember those who have died on our roads and to celebrate the strength of those who have been injured and those who have suffered losses through road crashes. The service provides an opportunity to remember the work of the emergency services in dealing with road crashes, and to remember all those who tried to help in any way.
By:A.J.
For further information contact :-
Ann or David on 01204 811221
DO YOU USE AN IKN-JET PRINTER?
Send your empty cartridges to MABF!
Environmentally the amount of empty cartridges being disposed of in the normal waste system is criminal.
THERE IS ANOTHER WAY!
MABF can recycle used cartridges from Ink-Jet printers; all you have to do is send them to us at our FREEPOST address.
Manchester Area Bereavement Forum
FREEPOST NWW1423A
MANCHESTER
M43 9BF
By:S.F.B.
DIARY DATES
Committee Meetings
Tuesday 14th October 2003.
Tuesday 9th December 2003.
Tuesday 3rd February 2004.
By:S.F.B.