Chennai Counselors’ Foundation (CCF), an association for Mental Health Professionals invited MOHAN Foundation to give a guest lecture on “Grief Counseling” on 20^th September 2014 at the Nagar Hall, Desabandhu Plaza, Royapettah.  The program was attended by about 50 members. Mrs. Sujatha Niranjan, Manager – Information Systems and Mr. Prakash, Transplant Coordinator from MOHAN Foundation addressed the gathering.

 

The following topics were addressed during the session.

1. Concepts of organ donation and whole body donation
2. Counseling the bereaved families

 

Concepts of organ donation and whole body donation:

Organ Donation – the need, Types: Live and Deceased Donation, Organs and tissues that can be donated, Process involved in deceased donation, Myths, the concept of Donor Card, Role of family, whole body donation and the procedures were explained to the participants.

 

Counseling the bereaved families:

Organ donation is the height of altruism and it is the most generous act from the families saying “YES” for organ donation despite their loss. The different kinds of emotions expressed by the families and the stages of grief were illustrated with few case studies. The skills and techniques used to make the families to understand and accept the loss and approaching those grieving families for organ donation were also spoken. The myths about grief and do’s and don’ts in grief counseling were discussed at the session.

 

The various queries raised by the participants regarding organ donation and approaching the grieving families for organ donation were answered. Overall the lecture was conceived as enlightening by the participants.