Lesson 4
Understanding Death and Grief
Loss is an important part of life.
It is always difficult and painful to
lose someone.
Learning to cope with grief is an important part of human
development.
Lesson 4
Lesson Objectives
In this lesson, you’ll learn to:
Describe the different kinds of emotional loss.
Identify the stages of the grieving process.
Discuss the ways in which people cope with emotional loss.
Examine issues related to death and grieving.
Analyze the importance of using community mental health
services to help cope with grief.
Lesson 4
Different Kinds of Loss
Losses Experienced in Life
Missing a chance to play in a championship game because of
an injury.
Failing to get the grade you needed on an important exam.
Experiencing rejection.
Breakup of a relationship.
Death of a pet, friend, or family member.
Feeling the loss of whatever—or whomever—you left behind
when moving or changing schools.
Lesson 4
Expressions of Grief
Grief Response
When a loss occurs, it is common and natural to experience a
grief response.
The way a person responds to loss is unique to the situation
and to the individual.
Lesson 4
Expressions of Grief
Factors That Affect the Grief Response
A person’s perspective on the lost relationship.
A person’s ability to remain open to interaction in other
relationships.
Lesson 4
Expressions of Grief
The Grieving Process
The grieving process occurs during the grief response.
The purpose of this process is to reach closure, or acceptance
of a loss.
The stages of grief reflect a variety of reactions that may
occur as people work through the process.
The reactions, were identified by noted Swiss American
doctor Elisabeth Kübler-Ross.
Lesson 4
Expressions of Grief
Stages of Grief
Denial/Numbness
Emotional Releases
Anger
Bargaining
Depression
Remorse
Acceptance
Hope
Lesson 4
Coping with Death
Some Ways of Coping with Death
Allow some time to reflect on who you were before the loss.
Focus on what you were able to do in the relationship.
Remember the wonderful things about the person.
Reach closure by seeking support from others.
Lesson 4
Coping with Death
Helping Others Through the Grieving Process
Support from family and friends is important during mourning.
You can help by:
Showing empathy or just being
there to listen.
Sharing your memories and
appreciation of the person who
is gone.
Talking about experiences and
memories.
Lesson 4
Coping with Death
Grief Counseling
Seeing a counselor or therapist who specializes in grief can
help people through the grieving process.
These specialists often can be found through community
mental health services, such as hospices.
Lesson 4
Coping with Disasters and Crises
Coping Mechanisms
Using effective coping mechanisms can ease the process of
recovery from traumatic or sudden events.
Spend time with other people, and discuss your feelings.
Get back to daily routines as quickly as possible.
Eat nutritious foods, exercise, and get enough rest and
sleep.
Do something positive to help your community through the
event.
Lesson 4
Quick Review
Choose the appropriate option.
Q. An individual’s total response to a
major loss is known as ____.
1. mourning
2. a grief response
3. coping
4. grief counseling
Lesson 4
Quick Review - Answer
A. An individual’s total response to a major loss is known as a
grief response.
Click Next to attempt another question.
Lesson 4
Quick Review
Provide a short answer to the question given below.
Q. Name the stages that may be involved in the grieving
process.
Click Next to view the answer.
Lesson 4
Quick Review - Answer
A. The stages that may be involved in the grieving process:
Denial or numbness
Emotional releases
Anger
Bargaining
Depression
Remorse
Acceptance
Hope
Click Next to attempt another question.
Lesson 4
Quick Review
Provide a short answer to the question given below.
Q. List three strategies for coping with disasters and crises.
Click Next to view the answer.
Lesson 4
Quick Review - Answer
A. Some strategies for coping with disasters and crises:
Spend time with other people, and discuss your
feelings.
Get back to daily routines as quickly as possible.
Eat nutritious foods, exercise, and get enough rest and
sleep.
Do something positive to help your community through
the event, such as assisting with cleanup or raising
money for aid.
Click Next to attempt another question.
Lesson 4
Quick Review
Analyze the following situation.
How might coping with a death resulting from a long-term
illness differ from coping with a sudden death caused by an
accident?
Lesson 4
Quick Review - Answer
A. Correct! An individual’s total response to a major loss is
known as a grief response.
Click Next to attempt another question.
Lesson 4
Quick Review - Answer
You have answered the question incorrectly. Go back to try again,
or click Next to view the correct answer.
Lesson 4
Coping with Disasters and Crises
Coping Mechanisms
Using effective coping mechanisms can ease the process of
recovery from traumatic or sudden events.
Coping is
Spend time with otherdealing
people, and discuss your feelings.
successfully with
Get back to daily routines
as quickly
difficult
changesasinpossible.
your life.
Eat nutritious foods, exercise, and get enough rest and
sleep.
Do something positive to help your community through the
event.
Lesson 4
Expressions of Grief
Grief Response
When a loss occurs, it is common and natural to experience a
grief response.
A grief
The way a person responds to loss is unique to the situation
response is an
and to the individual.
individual’s total
response to a
major loss.
Lesson 4
Coping with Death
Helping Others Through the Grieving Process
Support from family and friends is important during mourning.
You can help by:
Showing empathy or just being
there to listen.
Sharing your memories and
appreciation of the person who
is gone.
Talking about experiences and
memories.
Mourning
is the act of
showing sorrow
or grief.