This blog post follows up from the previous posts (part 1, part 2, part 3) with additional ways to support bereaved parents.
7. Help coordinate work-related matters. Many don’t consider that there can be a number of challenges when returning to work after losing a child. How does one continue with “business as usual” when they're grieving such a devastating loss? Taking time off from responsibilities such as work can be very helpful for bereaved parents navigating their grief journey. However, workplace bereavement policies often allow for only a few days off; and, to the extent that it’s available, sick leave, vacation time off, and other paid-time-off (PTO) might also allow just a few extra days.
We may write a future blog post that takes a closer look at returning to work after losing a child. But for the purposes of this blog post, we want to raise awareness that this is an area where you as a supporter can offer to help your loved one.
For example, the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), combined with policies implemented by certain states and employers, can enable extended time off work (paid and/or unpaid) for both bereaved mothers and fathers. These policies are often not very accessible or user-friendly. You can help your loved one by researching these policies and, to whatever extent your loved one would like you to, coordinating with appropriate individuals (e.g., employers, government program representatives, insurers, and healthcare providers) to obtain the required documentation to secure the extra time off.
8. Share resources. Another way you can support your loved one after losing a child is by taking the initiative to educate yourself (like you're doing now via reading this blog post!) and sharing resources available to help them. You can start with our resource compendium, which highlights support groups, therapist directories, books, podcasts, and other resources helpful for bereaved parents.
There are a wide range of resources available, and it's best to not bombard your loved one with too many resources at once; it's important to listen well and be attuned to whatever their needs are at a given time.
For example, if your loved one expresses a sentiment such as, "I feel so alone right now," consider recommending one of the support groups listed on our resource page so they can be surrounded with a community of other parents who have similarly experienced the death of a child.
If your loved one expresses a sentiment such as, "I'm feeling hopeless," consider recommending resources such as the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline or help them find an appropriate therapist so they can speak with an individual trained to help.
If your loved one expresses something like, "I don't know where to go from here," consider recommending resources such as podcasts, blogs, or books where they can hear stories about how others have navigated life after losing a child and learn helpful tools for coping with grief.
If your loved one shares something like, "This all feels so surreal" or "I don't even know how to process it all," consider gifting them a journaling set such as the one we offer which has guided journaling prompts.
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There are many more ways to help your loved one, and we'll be continuing this important series in future posts. Subscribe below to stay tuned about when the next post will be released.