Michelle Ward was joined in the studio by Jane Bennett and Martyn Stevens of Bennetts Funeral Directors to talk Dying Matters Week Seminars, Memorial Service and the Living Well in Later Life Community Event.
INTERVIEW
When Crisis Strikes
A crisis can be different things to different people, to a child losing a toy can be devastating; to a teenager not getting enough ‘likes’ on Facebook; to an adult being diagnosed with a life-threatening illness or losing a job is something we can connect with. The crisis that we most often see, though, is when someone has died, sometimes because of an accident, at the hands of others or by suicide.
As part of Grief Journey Essex, Bennetts Funeral Directors, T Cribb and Sons and Paul J King Funeral Directors see families in crisis much of the time. We are there to help families through the dreadful time as best we can, often staying in contact for years afterwards, and continuing to offer our support after initial numbness has subsided. Many of us meet families when someone has died suddenly and unnecessarily, and to help us to understand the emotions surrounding these situations better we have invited Dr Bill Webster to speak to us and our colleagues who may meet these families – particularly HM Coroner’s officers, the Police, Fire and Ambulance Services, A&E teams, hospital staff and doctors, members of the clergy, school staff, support workers and council staff.
The seminar is not designed to replace existing policies or procedures for future crises, but to help us better understand what can be experienced by those involved, directly and indirectly, in the crisis or disaster, and how we as communities can respond.
Professional Seminar 1:
Thursday 10th May 2018 – Bentley Crematorium – 2.30 to 4.30p.m.
The Challenges of Grief after Suicide – A Seminar by Dr Bill Webster
Part 1: The Uniqueness of Grief after Suicide.
In this seminar, Dr Bill Webster will suggest some of the unique challenges of Grief after Suicide, and show how recent research has developed some alternatives to traditional theories of grief and conventional cognitive and narrative therapies.
Part 2: Healing Strategies for Grief after Suicide
What is healing? Is “closure” or “recovery” a viable goal of therapy or support, or is there a better and more realistic way of describing positive outcome. What can we realistically offer the survivors of suicide that will enable them to go on with life and living?
To book your place at this free seminar please visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-challenges-of-grief-after-suicide-a-seminar-by-dr-bill-webster-tickets-43859992418 or contact us on 01277 210104 or at info@bennettsfunerals.co.uk.
Professional Seminar 2:
Friday 11th May – Basildon Hospital – 10 a.m. to 12 noon and repeated at
Essex Country Cricket Club, Chelmsford – 2.30 to 4.30 p.m.
Coping with Crisis – A Seminar by Dr Bill Webster
“In a world where we know that tragedies occur, organisations should have policies, procedures and personnel in place to deal with what we should do when ‘This can’t happen here’ … DOES happen.” – Dr. Bill Webster
In the past few years, we have all witnessed whether personally or through the media, numerous situations of crisis involving terrorist attacks, bombings, murders, suicides and major disasters like the Grenfell Tower tragedy which took so many lives and affected countless others.
Such incidents, which seem more widespread and frequent than ever deeply affect communities. Families and friends of those who suffered in such tragic events, as well as the many first responders and support agencies can experience distress not just by what took place on those specific days, but also during the ongoing aftermath of such events through follow up reporting and analysis.
The seminar is designed to help us better understand what is experienced by those involved, directly and indirectly, in a critical incident, and what we can do to support and empower people when crisis impacts a community, and in the aftermath?
Dr Bill Webster, a grief counsellor, comes to help us understand some of the traumatic reactions of such critical incidents, and some of the practical and emotional issues such a situation can not only create but which can linger.
- Understanding Trauma and Crisis
What constitutes a crisis? Is it the event or the reaction to what has occurred?
2. Strategies of Support during and after a Crisis
What can we do to support people when crisis impacts a community? What helpful strategies can we offer to those affected by the sights, sounds and smells of the situations they are exposed to?
3. Let’s Talk: Communication Skills
What do we say to people in crisis, and how do we say it? What helps and what doesn’t?
4. Understanding Resiliency: The “Bounce Back” Factor
All too quickly, people talk about “healing” after any crisis. But what does that mean? Is “closure” or “recovery” a viable goal of therapy or support, or is there a better and more realistic way of describing a positive outcome. What can we realistically offer people after a loss that will enable them to go on with life and living?
To book your place at this free seminar in Basildon please visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/coping-with-crisis-a-seminar-by-dr-bill-webster-tickets-43860398633 or in Chelmsford please visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/coping-with-crisis-a-seminar-by-dr-bill-webster-tickets-43889338192 or contact us on 01277 210104 or at info@bennettsfunerals.co.uk.
Public Seminar for SOBS (Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide):
Thursday 10th May – Christchurch, Warley 7 – 9 p.m. – Refreshments from 6.30 p.m.
Coping with Grief after Suicide
Dr Bill Webster is a well-known grief counsellor who has been providing grief support to people for over 30 years. He will share some of the unique challenges of coping with the loss of someone who has died by suicide, as well as some practical coping strategies to enable the survivors to find reasons to go on with life and living.
To book your place at this free seminar please visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/coping-with-grief-after-suicide-public-seminar-for-sobs-survivors-of-bereavement-by-suicide-tickets-43860651389 or contact us on 01277 210104 or at info@bennettsfunerals.co.uk.
Bennetts Funerals Memorial Service:
Sunday 13th May, The Regimental Chapel, Warley – 4 p.m. followed by refreshments in the Chapel
Milestones in the Grief Journey
Dr Bill brings us some new ways of looking at grief and some practical strategies that can help us as we struggle to find ways to cope with loss and to find that life can still be meaningful.
To book your place please visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/memorial-service-tickets-43842588362 or contact us on 01277 210104 or at info@bennettsfunerals.co.uk.
Bennetts Funeral directors and undertaker services Essex
Bennetts funeral home is your local funeral director and undertaker with offices at Brentwood and Billericay serving all of Essex in arranging and planning funerals. Bennetts funerals is a family undertaker business that has served the local community with respect and sensitivity for over a 100 years. We can accommodate your funeral wishes in all types of funerals.
https://www.bennettsfunerals.co.uk/
