Greater need for social services

In light of all of the issues creeping up in society in recent times, there is a greater need for social services in this island.

So states the Director of the Life Intervention and Support Services (LISS), Shauntee Walters, who was delivering the welcome remarks recently at the opening ceremony for their Grief and the Human Condition Seminar at the Sky Mall Conference Centre.

“I am sure that you would agree with me that there is a need for greater social service intervention in our island. The upsurge in violence and deviance speaks to the need for resources to be focused on parent education and re-education; social skills; education, coping skills education; negotiation skills; conflict resolution and mediation and anger management.”

She said that another area that is necessary is helping persons to cope with the loss of a loved one and this is an area that they would be addressing over the next two days.
“Just this past week I had an experience which brought the need for services such as ours to the fore. People are hurting and crying out for someone to care. Many of us struggle with emotional issues and carry the weight with us daily. It builds and builds until we explode; sometimes in the most unproductive or embarrassing way.”

Walters stated that dealing with grief involves more than just taking medication and this is something that they as the organisers bore in mind when organising this event.
“Emotional challenges cannot be fixed with medication alone. Just as we attend physicians, we need to seek the help of trained mental health professionals to help us achieve and maintain good mental health. In conceptualizing this conference, we sought to identify an area where we all need assistance. Grief and bereavement in one area where we all have some experience; although we rather not.”

Therefore, this conference is for those who work in areas such as grief counseling as well as those who have lost a loved one themselves.

“This conference is for anyone who has experienced grief, who works with those who are grieving, who just want to help in some way. This conference is for you. I trust that all our expressed needs and objectives will be met over the next two days. Our presenters are more than qualified to instruct, teach and assist us all in any concerning grief and bereavement.” (PJT)