We acknowledge the suffering that COVID-19 has caused to the Indian community.
It is a difficult time for all who have family and friends back in India. We extend our condolences to those who have lost a loved one. We have support available.
We can help support individuals, families and groups with grief and loss they are experiencing. Our services are free and confidential.
Contact PEACE Multicultural Services
(08) 8245 8110 | askpeace@rasa.org.au
9am – 5pm, Monday – Friday
We have a Hindi speaking counsellor on Wednesday from 1:00pm to 5:00pm until the end of June 2021.
If in crisis, please call Lifeline 13 11 14 (available 24 hours, 7 days a week).
Download a copy of ‘Know more about grief’ here, or read below.
Dealing with grief and loss is different for everyone
“Loved ones who are physically absent are often kept psychologically present” (Boss, 2005)
“We want to remember what we lost” (Delaney, 2014)
You can hold your departed loved ones near, while also taking care of yourself.
When we are grieving, we may:
- Experience painful emotions due to loss, such as; anxiety, depression, numbness, helplessness or hopelessness
- Want to hold on to grief but also want it to go away
- Experience feelings of guilt
- Have intrusive thoughts (thoughts that come out of nowhere) (Horowitz et. al., 2003)
- Lose interest in activities that we once enjoyed
- Not be able to make sense of what is happening
- Feel better on a certain day but then fall back into grief again on another day, and it can be confusing.
Strategies that might help (APS 2013):
- Think about what has helped you cope in the past and what you can do to stay well
- Try to take time to eat, rest and relax, even for short periods
- Check-in with your friends to see how they are doing and have them check in with you – find ways to support each other
- Talk with friends, loved ones or other people you trust for support
- Minimise your intake of alcohol, caffeine or nicotine and avoid non-prescription drugs
- Seek support from professionals if you are struggling to cope.
We know from people who have connected with PEACE that talking about grief can help.
We are here for you.
Other support services include:
Lifeline
PHONE – 13 11 14 – (24/7)
TEXT – 0477 13 11 14 – (6pm-midnight AEDT, 7 nights)
CHAT ONLINE – lifeline.org.au/crisis-chat (7pm – midnight, 7 nights)
VISIT – lifeline.org.au
Mental Health Emergency Line
PHONE – 13 14 65
For assistance in a mental health emergency, contact the mental health triage service – available 24 hours, seven days a week.
Beyond Blue
PHONE – 1300 22 4636 (24/7)
CHAT ONLINE – 3pm-12am – 7 days a week
VISIT – beyondblue.org.au/getsupport/get-immediate-support
Beyond Coronavirus Mental wellbeing Support Service
PHONE – 1800 512 348 – (24/7)
VISIT – coronavirus.beyondblue.org.au
Online support forum – beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/stayingwell/coping-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak
SA COVID-19 Mental Health Support Line
PHONE – 1800 632 753
For mental health support by phone and video in relation to COVID-19.
Available 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week.
This service can also provide follow-up calls.
COVID-19 Mental Health Peer Support Line (Skylight / LETSS):
PHONE – 1800 02 2020 – 5pm – 11:30pm every day
CHAT ONLINE – www.skylight.org.au/COVID-19-Support-Line
Callers will receive support from highly skilled and qualified staff who have lived through their own mental health recovery journey.
CAMHS Connect
Mental health support for children and young people
PHONE – 1300 222 647 – 9am – 5pm, Monday – Friday (closed public holidays)
Lived Experience Telephone Support Service (LETSS)
Peer-based mental health phone support (lived experience)
PHONE – 1800 013 755 (5pm-11:30pm, 365 days)
VISIT – www.letss.org.au
Headspace
PHONE – 1800 650 890
VISIT – headspace.org.au
Red Cross Wellbeing Calls
Vulnerable people, their friends or loved ones can register for the Telecross REDi COVID-19 service by:
PHONE – 1800 188 071
VISIT – register.redcross.org.au
Suicide Call-back Service
PHONE – 1300 659 46
Kids Helpline
online support for ages 5-25
PHONE – 1800 55 1800
VISIT – kidshelpline.com.au
MensLine
PHONE – 1300 789 97
References Boss, P. (2005). Loss, Trauma, and Resilience: Therapeutic Work With Ambiguous Loss. W W Norton & Company. Good grief; coping with loss – Dr. Susan Delaney. (2021). [Video]. Retrieved 2 June 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxSd8f2Utpk. Horowitz, M., & M.D., Bryna Siegel, Ph.D., Are Holen, M.D., George A. Bonanno, Ph.D., Constance Milbrath, Ph.D., and Charles H. Stinson, M.D., M. (2021). Diagnostic Criteria for Complicated Grief Disorder | FOCUS. Focus.psychiatryonline.org. Retrieved 2 June 2021, from https://focus.psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/foc.1.3.290. Psychological First Aid: A guide to supporting people affected by disaster | APS. Psychology.org.au. (2021). Retrieved 2 June 2021, from https://www.psychology.org.au/for-the-public/Psychology-topics/Disasters/Recovering-from-disasters/Psychological-first-aid-supporting-people-disaster.
