In this episode, we take a deeper look at the many faces of grief that pre-hospital professionals may encounter in the field, often in subtle, complex, and deeply human ways. While grief is commonly associated with death, it extends far beyond, touching every kind of loss: from separation and divorce to anticipatory grief, perinatal loss, and the unique pain of suicide bereavement.

We’re joined once again by Liz Gleeson, psychotherapist, educator, and grief specialist, to explore these lesser discussed but critical aspects of grief. Together, we’ll examine disenfranchised grief, where people mourn losses that aren’t openly acknowledged or socially supported; anticipatory grief, where loved ones begin grieving before a death occurs; and specific experiences such as parental bereavement, sibling loss, grief in older adults, and grief following perinatal loss.

We’ll also explore how non-death losses like divorce or family estrangement can trigger profound grief responses that may go unrecognised during emergency care. This conversation will help you better understand the many forms grief can take and offer insights into how you, as a pre-hospital professional, can provide more compassionate, informed, and sensitive care during some of life’s most difficult moments.

You can find Liz's podcast "Shapes of Grief' podcast here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/shapes-of-grief/id1450116449

This is Liz's website, where further training on grief can be found: https://shapesofgrief.com/