S1E141: Grieving matters: How to cope with the loss of a loved one

Update: 2025-09-30

Description

Grief is a painful, individual emotional and physical response to a significant loss. But it can be managed.

Synopsis: Every first Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you.

Grief is a painful, individual emotional and physical response to a significant loss.

Death, divorce, the loss of a home or a job, fast declining health are among the major events that people grieve.

To learn more about coping with grief, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo speaks to Lin Jing, a counsellor from the Singapore Association for Mental Health.

SAMH is one of the few social service agencies focusing on mental health here that operates a general helpline for the public at 1800-283-7019

They also discuss what is grief counselling about.

If your grief feels like it's too much to bear, please reach out for help. We have included more helplines below.

Highlights (click/tap above):

9:00 When should you consider grief counselling?

12:45 When guilt is thrown into the picture

23:00 Understanding cognitive behaviourial therapy, grief counselling and grief therapy

29:10 Building a life around the loss of a child…

32:00 Appearing strong and unaffected by grief, when you are crumbling inside

Check out ST's new series, No health without mental health: https://str.sg/mentalhealthmatters

Read Joyce Teo's stories: https://str.sg/JbxN

Host: Joyce Teo (joyceteo@sph.com.sg)

Produced and edited by: Amirul Karim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis and Lynda Hong

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Helplines

Mental well-being

National helpline: 1771 (24 hours) / 6669-1771 (via WhatsApp)
Samaritans of Singapore: 1-767 (24 hours) / 9151-1767 (24 hours CareText via WhatsApp)
Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019
Silver Ribbon Singapore: 6386-1928
Chat, Centre of Excellence for Youth Mental Health: 6493-6500/1
Women’s Helpline (Aware): 1800-777-5555 (weekdays, 10am to 6pm)
The Seniors Helpline: 1800-555-5555 (weekdays, 9am to 5pm)
Tinkle Friend (for primary school-age children): 1800-2744-788

Counselling