When the end comes at the beginning. A lecture on processing difficult topics was hosted by the FZS

Experts lectured students of the Faculty of Health Care Studies of the University of West Bohemia and the public on important and sensitive topics commonly encountered in health care - grief, loss of a loved one and spirituality.

On Wednesday 25 September, the event When the end comes at the beginning: Grieving, loss and the possibilities of processing it took place at the Faculty of Health Care Studies of the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen. Marcela Vomáčka Vraspírová and Jan Kaňák presented sensitive and important topics related to loss, mourning and spirituality.

Marcela Vomáčka Vraspírová, an expert counsellor for the bereaved and a crisis interventionist from the organization Dítě v srdci, z.s., in the first part of the program on the topic of Loss and Silence, focused on the topic of loss and mourning. The organization in which she is working helps families who have experienced or are going through the difficult situation of losing a child, either during pregnancy, childbirth or up to 6 months after birth. It offers mothers, men, entire families and their loved one’s long-term care, support and space to process their pain.

The lecture focused on perinatal loss, which is often socially neglected, and the specifics of grieving in these cases. The presenter touched on topics such as the death of a child, the importance of saying goodbye, the funeral and support options that can help families in this situation. The lecture also included the presentation of various materials such as the brochures Guide to the loss of a baby, cards including procedures for health teams, communication cards, Honzik's boats, a small swaddle blanket, a letter I want to tell you more and a guide to My Baby.

Participants had the opportunity to get acquainted with the therapeutic aid Memorybox. Various types of Memoryboxes are supplied free of charge to more than half of the hospitals in the Czech Republic, thanks to which memories of the baby can be preserved, they can also guide through the grieving process and help to gradually process the loss of the baby. Dítě v srdci also provides training for health professionals on how to use Memoryboxes in practice and how their contents help families after a loss. The box contains items such as clothes, a diaper, a blanket, a storybook, bracelets for mom and baby, 2 identical toys, communication cards and other tools.

In the second part of the program, Jan Kaňák from the Department of Sociology and Social Work at the Faculty of Arts UWB, spoke on the topic I wouldn't say it was because of my faith, or Mourning and Spirituality. The lecturer discussed the historical development of the approach to mourning, including references to Sigmund Freud's Mourning and Melancholia. He analysed the stages of mourning and their changes over time and addressed the issue of first psychological help for the bereaved and skills that can help in the recovery process.

Special attention was paid to spirituality and the search for meaning in difficult life situations. Jan Kaňák explained how spirituality can help people experiencing loss and how it can provide inner strength during the grieving process.