Storytelling can bring solace to the bereaved and enable others to lean into the depth and complexity of the lived experience. Unmasking Grief shares the experience of four bereaved mothers in the lead up to their child’s death and life beyond, in a bid to ‘Unmask’ the reality of grief for their peers and those who care for them.

Within the paediatric palliative care national action plan stakeholder consultation process consumers highlighted the need for education around grief. Collaboraide, a specialist consultancy in thanatology was approached to deliver a video series that met this identified need.

 

Expressions of interest were advertised through the PPC National Action Plan Project Bulletin. Four bereaved mothers responded and consented to participate in the co-design project. Four Zoom workshops were facilitated by Collaboraide principal, Dr Leigh Donovan. Workshops were recorded and transcribed with key themes identified in collaboration with co-designers. 

 

Six themes form the chapters of the six-part video series. Chapter 1: ‘We were broken but we didn’t show it’:  Grieving in anticipation of my child dying; Chapter 2:  ‘‘This is your child and you want to get it right’:  Approaching end of life and planning for my child’s funeral;  Chapter 3:  Waking up to the ‘angry raging monster’ of grief: grieving beyond the death of my child;  Chapter Four:  ‘Living a backward treasure hunt’: Trying to put myself back together again;  Chapter 5:  ‘Enveloping myself in a blanket of love’: Rituals, metaphor and symbols;   Chapter  6:  ‘Balancing joy and sorrow’: Finding a place of comfort and solace in grief.

Grieving openly in a world that resists confronting suffering is arduous. The bereaved learn to put on a mask to avoid experiencing more pain or unintentionally inflicting pain on others. Unmasking Grief invites our community to both expose and witness grief in a truly authentic way.