The question isn’t IF or WHEN you will experience compassion fatigue….the question is HOW OFTEN and for HOW LONG. The reality is, as caregivers, we have our own stories. We have experienced our own losses, trauma and heartache. Every time we listen to the stories of those we serve, we are flooded with the suffering being shared, but also the insurgence of our own! If you are a parent, grandparent, guardian, mentor, mental health professional, healthcare professional, frontline worker, first responder, or educator this post is for you! Let this article be your reminder, even better, your permission, to prioritize self-care.
Sharing emotions related to grief and saying goodbye is often difficult, especially for children and teens. Writing goodbye letters can help individuals ease into the exploration of complex and conflicting feelings. In this activity, youth and families will be given a goodbye letter template with sentence starter prompts that speak directly to the person who died while reflecting on feelings and memories. The practice of writing can provide an emotional release when paired with the empowering choice of sharing, saving, or shredding the letter once completed.
Aftershocks of the pandemic have surfaced in the form of hurtful comments and behaviors towards children grieving the death of a loved one to COVID. This article provides strategies to prevent stigma and respond to hurtful comments and behaviors.