grief loss and depression

8/3/2019 Grief Loss and Depression

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fact sheet 28

Grie, Loss and Depression

for mor inormion www.beyondblue.org.au orbeyondblue ino line 1300 22 4636 of 4 of 4

Grief and loss can put people at risk of

becoming depressed. While the signs and

symptoms of grief and loss are similar, its

important to recognise the differences so

the affected person can receive the most

appropriate help.

What Is LOss?

The death o a loved one is a common situation that causes

grie. However, when there are big changes in a persons

lie, it can sometimes eel as i something has been taken

away. Losses can be large or small and the eect o multiple

losses builds up.

Common experiences o loss:

relationship changes separation, divorce, death o

a loved one

job changes unemployment, retrenchment, retirement

or demotion

change o role e.g. children leaving home or becoming

a carer and having ones reedom restricted

loss o health through illness, disability and/or ageing

miscarriage, inertility disappointment at not being able

to have a child

separation rom amily and riends e.g. moving interstate

or overseas.

What Is GRIef?

When a person experiences a signifcant loss, its usually

ollowed by a period o grie. Grie has no set pattern and

the length and severity o each grie experience is dierent

or everyone. There are however, common reactions and

responses:

shock, eeling o numbness

disbelie It cant be real.

conusion and trying to make sense o it Why has this

happened to me?

anger eeling deserted

pining and yearning wanting whatever was lost to

be returned

guilt I wish I had done things dierently.

a sense o isolation and ear at acing the rest o lie alone.

The experience o grie is normal, but its still painul and

a person experiencing grie needs support. I grie is not

recognised and acknowledged, it can ester and have a

detrimental eect on a persons health and wellbeing.

GettING thROUGh GRIef aND LOss

What you can do to help yoursel

Although the pain o grie cannot be alleviated quickly,

there are many things you can do to help yoursel through

a tough time.

Stay connected to riends and amily, and use support

groups. Because some riends may be inclined to stay

away, let them know how oten youd like to see them.

Dont be araid to ask or help.

Stay healthy Eat healthy meals, exercise regularly, get

a good nights sleep and keep use o drugs and alcohol to

a minimum.

Manage stress Lighten your load by asking riends,

amily members or work colleagues to help you with some

chores or commitments. Relaxation and gentle exercise

can be helpul.

Make time to participate in enjoyable activities.


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for mor inormion www.beyondblue.org.au orbeyondblue ino line 1300 22 4636 of 4 of 4

How to help a person who is experiencing grie

and loss

Listen to what the person says about what he/she

is going through, but also talk about everyday things

because lie goes on.

Support the person by initiating contact and by being

available.

Encourage the person to get help i he/she eels stuck.

Is thIs DePRessION?

It can sometimes be difcult to know whether:

you are just eeling down because you are experiencing

grie and loss

or you have symptoms o depression.

Depression can certainly be triggered by loss and it may

share symptoms with grie, such as difculty controlling

emotions and moods, eeling teary and tired however,its important to recognise the dierence between normal

grieving and depression.

Depression is more than just a low mood or eeling sad. A

person is likely to be depressed i:

they get no enjoyment rom any aspect o lie

its difcult to do things like getting up in the morning

they have no energy and drive

they are avoiding people

theyre not looking ater themselves properly eating,

washing etc.

they eel ashamed or guilty.

A diagnosis o depression can be made i a person has

persistently, or more than TWO WEEKS:

Felt sad, down or miserable most o the time

Lost interest or pleasure in almost all usual activities.

I the answer is YES to either o these questions,

complete the symptom checklist below. I the answer

was not YES to either o these questions, it is unlikely

that the person has a depressive illness.

Lost or gained a lot o weight OR

Had a decrease or increase in appetite

Sleep disturbance

Felt slowed down, restless or excessively busy

Felt tired or had no energy

Felt worthless OR

Felt excessively guilty ORFelt guilt about things they should not have been

eeling guilty about

Had poor concentration OR

Had difculties thinking OR

Were very indecisive

Had recurrent thoughts o death

add up numbr o ik or ol or: _____

Reerences: American Psychiatric Association, Diagnostic and statistical manual

o mental disorders, 4th ed (DSM-IV). Washington, DC: APA 1994; and,

International classifcation o diseases and related health problems, 10th revision.

Geneva, World Health Organisation, 1992-1994.

Its important to note that scores provide only a rough

guide as to whether someone has depression. I you

have ticked fve or more o these statements, a health

proessional should be consulted.


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tReatMeNt fOR DePRessION

There is a range o eective treatments or depression

including psychological therapies and/or medication.

Psychological treatments help a person to change

negative thought patterns and eelings. A person can learn

new ways to react to people and situations. This can help

recovery and prevent depression rom returning.

Medication I someone is only mildly or moderatelydepressed, psychological treatment alone may be eective.

However, i depression is severe, medication is oten

necessary as well. Antidepressants can take seven to

21 days to work eectively and should not be started or

stopped without medical advice. Sometimes sleeping tablets

can be helpul, but only or a short time.

Its important to remember that with the right treatment,

most people recover rom depression.

Its not always easy to help someone who is

experiencing depression. It can be hard to know whatto say or do. Below are some tips.

Recognise that depression is an illness that needs

treatment.

Dont be araid to talk to the person about how he/she

is eeling.

Spending time with the person lets them know someone

cares and understands them.

Encourage the person to seek proessional help rom

a doctor or a mental health proessional.

Take care o yoursel. Supporting someone with

depression can be demanding. Family members and

riends should take time to look ater themselves.

WheRe tO Get heLP

Talking to a doctor who is a General Practitioner (GP)

is a good frst step. In some cases, the person may be

reerred to a mental health specialist like a psychiatrist or

psychologist. For a list o GPs with expertise in treating

depression and related disorders visit thebeyondblue

website www.beyondblue.org.au and click on Get Help.

Psychiatrists are doctors who specialise in mental

health. They can make medical and psychological

assessments, conduct medical tests and prescribe

medication. Some psychiatrists use psychological

treatments like Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT).

Psychologists, Social Workers and Occupational

Therapists specialise in providing non-medical

(psychological) treatment or depression and related

disorders.

A rebate can now be claimed through Medicare or

psychological treatments i you have a mental disorder and

a GP, psychiatrist or paediatrician reers you to a registered

psychologist, social worker or occupational therapist. For a

list o mental health proessionals who provide treatment or

people with mental health problems or which a Medicare

rebate can be claimed, see below:

Clinical Psychologists: www.beyondblue.org.au

under Get Help

Psychologists: www.psychology.org.au

under Find a Psychologist

Mental Health Social Workers: www.aasw.asn.au

under Find a Mental Health Worker

Mental Health Occupational Therapists: www.ausot.com.au

under Find a Mental Health OT


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for mor inormion www.beyondblue.org.au orbeyondblue ino line 1300 22 46364 of 4

MORe INfORMatION

www.beyondblue.org.au

Inormation on depression, anxiety and related substance-

use disorders, available treatments and where to get help

beyondblue ino line 1300 22 4636

Inormation on depression, anxiety and related substance-

use disorders, available treatments and reerral only(local call)

www.youthbeyondblue.com

beyondblues website or young people inormation on

depression and how to help a riend

Suicide Helpline Victoria

1300 651 251 or www.suicidehelpline.org.au

24 hour counselling, crisis intervention, inormation and

reerral (local call)

Lieline

13 11 14

24 hour counselling, inormation and reerral (local call)

Lielines Inormation Line

1300 13 11 14

Mental Health Inormation Service

National Association or Loss and Grie NALAG

VIC: www.nalagvic.org.au or ree call 1800 100 023 (rural)

(03) 9650 3000 (metro)

NSW: www.nalag.org.au or (02) 6882 9222

The Compassionate Friends

1800 641 091

24 hour telephone inormation, reerral and service or

people who have a lost amily member

GrieLink

www.griefink.asn.au

Web-based inormation and reerral around grie and loss

Suicide Call Back Service

1300 659 467

Provides counselling, inormation and reerral to people at

risk o suicide and those concerned about someone elses

behaviour

ARAFMI (Association or Relatives and

Friends o the Mentally Ill)

Provides inormation on support services or amilies and

riends o people with mental illness and/or psychiatric disability

QLD www.aramiqld.org

NSW www.arami.org

SA 08 8271 6288

TAS http://home.iprimus.com.au/rami

VIC www.araemi.org.au

WA www.arami.asn.au

Carers Australia

02 6122 9900 or www.carersaustralia.com.au

Inormation and resources or carers

Relationships Australia

1300 364 277 or www.relationships.com.auProvides relationship support

beyondblue: the national depression initiative , 2008.

PO Box 6100, Hawthorn West VIC 3122

T: (03) 9810 6100beyondblue ino line 1300 22 4636

F: (03) 9810 6111

E: [email protected]

W: www.beyondblue.org.au

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