Expert gives advice on how to grieve

He is the executive director of the Centre for the Grief Journey and was brought to the island by the Guernsey Bereavement Service and Bailiwick Social Prescribing on a four-day visit.

‘One of GBS’s aims is to have grief talked about. We still hear stories of people crossing the road to avoid talking to those grieving because they don’t know what to say,’ said manager Liz Pirouet-Douglas.

‘Just saying something is better than saying nothing, even if it’s completely the wrong thing.’

Around 50 islanders attended the Care of the Griefgiver session, held in the Lansdown Room at the KGV, with Dr Webster also holding seminars on communicating with grieving people and suicide.

During his presentation he covered topics including how everyone reacts to death differently, and that emotional outbursts should be normalised.

‘You have to forgive them for being human,’ he told the audience.

He added that there was no right or wrong way to talk with someone who is grieving and that any interaction can be prove helpful.

‘People may not remember what you say, but how you made them feel,’ said Dr Webster.

Jenny Murphy, from Guernsey Victim Support & Witness Service, was among those in attendance and said the session has given her a better picture of grief

can entail.

‘I deal with people with various traumas and this has helped me to understand how it impacts others,’

she said.

‘I’ve been given ideas of how to approach the subject and how to look after myself.’