Disenfranchised Grief: The Shadowed Losses of Overdose and Suicide

The nation’s mental health crisis and opioid overdose epidemic have resulted in unprecedented mortality rates due to suicide and overdose. The far-reaching consequences of these losses continue to reverberate throughout communities, leaving individuals and families navigating complex and often unsupported grief.

This workshop explores the concept of disenfranchised grief—losses that are not always openly acknowledged, socially validated, or publicly mourned. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how stigma, shame, and societal responses impact the grieving process following overdose and suicide.

Designed for behavioral healthcare professionals, this presentation will offer clinical insight and practical guidance on supporting individuals and families affected by these shadowed losses, while highlighting current best practices in therapeutic and support-based interventions.

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Differentiate grief from disenfranchised grief
• Identify the impact of stigma on the grieving process
• Understand the relationship between prolonged grief disorder and disenfranchised grief
• Apply current best practices when providing therapeutic and support services to individuals impacted by disenfranchised grief

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher Beachway Therapy Center