Rural
28 September, 2024
Rural grieving
A free online program has been developed to address a gap in perinatal bereavement support options for Australian mothers and their families, particularly in rural communities.
The National Health and Medical Research Council Centre of Research Excellence in Stillbirth (Stillbirth CRE) based at Mater Research and The University of Queensland has created a new online program to support bereaved parents and families, called Living with Loss (LWL).
In Australia, around six babies are stillborn each day, and for one in three stillbirths, the cause is unknown.
The new program aims to provide another option of support for families after losing a baby and provides information and evidence-based strategies to support coping and wellbeing.
The information is delivered in a flexible, self-guided digital format. Led by Postdoctoral Researcher and Co-Lead of the Care Around Stillbirth and Neonatal Death research program Dr Siobhan Loughnan (pictured), LWL is a self-guided and flexible program that aims to increase access to readily available, evidence-based, and effective support.
“The death of a baby during pregnancy or soon after birth is devastating—but a reality faced by over 3,000 Australian families each year,” Dr Loughnan said.
“Grief, distress, and other multifaceted emotions are natural responses following pregnancy and baby loss, and the quality of care that families receive around this time, including ongoing support provided in community settings, are major contributors to immediate and long-term wellbeing.”
Dr Loughnan said the program was developed to address a gap in perinatal bereavement support options and to reduce some of the social, geographical, and logistical barriers that often limit engagement with support.
She said it would benefit those who faced barriers to accessing and engaging with traditional bereavement support, which is particularly limited in rural communities.
Dr Loughnan said there was perceived stigma for seeking help, long waiting periods for professional and peer support, and lack of services in rural regions.
LWL is free and available nationally to all individuals impacted by pregnancy and baby loss.
It can be accessed via the Stillbirth CRE’s Care Around Loss page:
https:// carearoundloss.stillbirthcre.org.au/
“LWL has been designed so that it can be accessed privately at any time, and any place,” Dr Loughnan said.
