Mark Evans, Head of Service for Spiritual Care and Bereavement Services in NHS Lothian and Professional Advisor for Spiritual Care to the Scottish Government, reflects on bereavement through the metaphor of a kaleidoscope. Drawing on personal loss, he explores how relationships shape our view of the world and how grief can profoundly alter that perspective, challenging assumptions about who is recognised as entitled to grieve.

Click on the the image to watch the video or here to view it on the NHS Education for Scotland Vimeo channel.

A transcript of this video can be found here

In this session, Professor Lucy Easthope, Centre for Death and Society, University of Bath, reflects on her experience of disaster response and bereavement work to reveal what really happens after tragedy. She challenges how we think about death, recovery and “help”, and shares insights on supporting those who are bereaved in addition to responders themselves. Blending professional insight with personal loss, she shows that grief cannot be avoided or managed away—but it can be better understood, better supported, and met with dignity, honesty and preparedness.

Click on the the image to watch the video or here to view it on the NHS Education for Scotland Vimeo channel.

A transcript of this video can be found here

In this session, Dr John MacArtney and Professor Kate Woodthorpe, examined how everyday language—particularly the term “loved one”—can oversimplify or misrepresent the complex relationships surrounding death, dying, and bereavement.

Film recording coming soon

Film recording by Dr Catriona Mayland coming soon

Film recording by Helen Fielding coming soon

Prolonged Grief Disorder: What Is It, and How Can I Help?

Steven Millar, Clinical Associate Psychologist, North East London NHS Foundation Trust

Steven talked about what Prolonged Grief Disorder is (diagnosis, history, prevalence), insight into effective psychological interventions for PGD (theory, protocols, evidence) and practical considerations for working with people affected by PGD.

Click on the image to watch the video or here to view it on the NHS Education for Scotland Vimeo channel.

A transcript of this video can be found here

Hospital to Home - a Collaborative Approach to Bereavement Support Following Pregnancy, Baby or Child Loss

Nicola Welsh, CEO, Held In Our Hearts talked about how blending NHS clinical expertise with the flexible, person-centred ethos of Held In Our Hearts improves access and continuity in bereavement support.

Click on the image to watch the video or here to view it on the NHS Education for Scotland Vimeo channel.

A transcript of this video can be found here.

Silenced Trauma, Unresolved Loss: Creative Health to Bear Witness to Families of the Missing

Pascale Waschnig, Doctoral Researcher, University of West London talked about how to amplify the voices of those affected, offer creative community-building activities for those affected and to integrate their lived experience into medical, nursing, and psychotherapy education using creative health to increase empathy, recognition, and compassion in care, emphasising the need of therapeutic frameworks that address the unique issues of unresolved loss.

Click on the image to watch the video or here to view it on the NHS Education for Scotland Vimeo channel.

A transcript of this video can be found here.

Slides to accompany this parallel session can be viewed here

Pre-bereavement Support for Children and Families in Palliative Care

Jade Finlayson's, Child and Families Lead Practitioner, St Columba’s Hospice Care session delivered a session on how to explain an incurable illness to children and young people, as well as ways to involve them in choices and decision-making. The session also highlighted the grief responses that children and young people displayed when experiencing a bereavement, and outlined how we could support them when someone was approaching the end of life.

Click on the image to watch the video or here to view it on the NHS Education for Scotland Vimeo channel.

 A transcript of this video can be found here.

Slides to accompany this parallel session can be viewed here

The Bereavement Journey®

The session focused on the impact of the programme from 3 perspectives:

1. The results of an independent impact evaluation showing participants consistently report remarkable improvements in mental wellbeing, reduced social isolation and improved capacity to cope well with loss.
2. The workforce of an NHS Provider employing 16,000 staff, where the programme helps staff navigate and differentiate the complexities of personal and professional encounters with death and grief, plus the impact on HR policies and managerial practice for staff.
3. Early learning from our HMP Prisons pilot programme in England and Scotland.

Click on the image to watch the video or here to view it on the NHS Education for Scotland Vimeo channel.

A transcript of this video can be found here.

Slides to accompany this parallel session can be viewed here