Loss & Grief links to HPE

Understanding life changes result in loss and grief

Change - pages 22–23

Grief reactions - page 24

Grief stories (video) - page 24

Level 5 Health knowledge and promotion

At Level 5 students recognise changes that occur as a result of the adolescent stage of the lifespan and describe factors that influence their own development. They analyse a range of influences on personal and family food selection, and identify major nutritional needs for growth and activity. They identify outcomes of risk-taking behaviours and apply harm minimisation strategies.

Level 6 Health knowledge and promotion

At Level 6 students analyse a health promotion strategy and the person and community behaviours and actions which result. They identify and describe the positive and negative health outcomes of this strategy. They explain how external influences affect personal values. They demonstrate appropriate assertiveness and resilience strategies. They identify mental health issues and factors which affect roles and responsibilities in sexual matters and sexual relationships. They identify and differentiate between social and environmental determinants of individual and population health. They identify and describe strategies that address areas of concern related to current trends in the nutritional status of Australians. They analyse and evaluate the factors that affect food selection

Establish and enforce group rules on confidentiality, respecting others' opinions and feelings, and having a right to pass (ie on talking about sensitive issues).

Reactions to loss and change

Grief reactions - pages 25–26

'Normal' grief reactions (handout) - page 28

Extension activity - page 27

Level 5 Health knowledge and promotion

Level 6 Health knowledge and promotion

Use the first three sessions from Enhancing Resilience 1 to help establish rules and a sense of belonging and trust.

Reaching out, reaching in

How to help - pages 29–30

Helping yourself, helping a friend (handout) - pages 31–32

Helping a friend - page 30

Level 5 Health knowledge and promotion

Level 6 Health knowledge and promotion

Use the first three sessions from Enhancing Resilience 1 to help establish rules and a sense of belonging and trust.

Helping friends

Types of support - pages 33–34

Giving advice - page 34

Dear Dr Wright letters (handout) - page 36

Seeking help - page 35

What to say - page 35

Newspaper article (handout) - page 37

Level 5 Health knowledge and promotion

Level 6 Health knowledge and promotion

Listening is often the best thing to do for someone who is experiencing loss and grief.

Feelings and fears

Different fears - page 38

Similarities & differences in our fears (worksheet) - page 40

Ranking fears - page 39

My fear (worksheet) - page 41

Level 5 Health knowledge and promotion

Level 6 Health knowledge and promotion

Grief in a zoo community: funerals and grief rituals

Exploring grief - page 42

Newspaper article (handout) - page 44

Funerals - page 43

Newspaper article (handout) - page 45

Research - page 43

Level 5 Health knowledge and promotion

Level 6 Health knowledge and promotion

Symbols, ceremonies and commemoration can provide a healing role for students and may be important in their gaining perspective about significant events.

Loss: a universal experience

Change and loss - page 46

Feelings - page 47

Categories of loss (handout) - page 48

Holmes-Rahe survey of loss (worksheet) - page 49

Level 5 Health knowledge and promotion

Level 6 Health knowledge and promotion

Consider team teaching Loss and Grief with a school counsellor/guidance officer/social worker/mental health professional. They are a significant resource.

Grief is normal

Changes and stress - page 50

'Normal' grief reactions (handout) - page 52

Level 5 Health knowledge and promotion

Level 6 Health knowledge and promotion

If students share their experiences of loss and grief, accept and value their version and understand that loss and grief is experienced in a myriad of ways that may be different from your own.

Understanding loss in response to death

Different deaths - page 53

Determinants of grief - page 54

Determinants of grief (student handout) - page 55

Determinants of grief (teacher information) - page 56

Level 5 Health knowledge and promotion

Level 6 Health knowledge and promotion

Supporting grieving friends and relatives

Grief reactions - page 57

Masculine and feminine grieving patterns - pages 58–59

Unhelpful strategies (handout) - page 60

Guidelines for being a supportive person (handout) - page 61

Level 5 Health knowledge and promotion

Level 6 Health knowledge and promotion

Students may appear to be overreacting to a loss event linked to a person with whom they may have no apparent relationship. This may, in fact, represent their first encounter with such a loss.

Controversial issues: the way people die

Defining euthanasia - page 62

Discussion and sample questions - page 63

Level 5 Health knowledge and promotion

Level 6 Health knowledge and promotion

Responding to help seeking

A friend in need - page 65

What can you do to help? - pages 66–67

Getting help - page 67

A friend might need help when … (OHT) - page 68

What can you do to help? - page 69

Questions about suicide (teacher information sheet) - page 70

Resource list - page 71

Level 5 Health knowledge and promotion

Level 6 Health knowledge and promotion

Link the help-seeking activities in Loss and Grief to the Understanding Mental Illnesses booklet for senior secondary students.