Lecture addresses grief, bereavement resulting from suicide

NEWTON — A lecture will be presented, titled “Our Work Cut Out for Us: Complicated and Disenfranchised Grief in a Survivor of a Loved One’s Suicide,” on Tuesday, March 6. The lecturer is Diana Sebzda, M.A., L.A.C., C.T., director of bereavement at the Joseph T. Quinlan Bereavement Center at the Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice and Home Care Center, located in Newton. This event, produced by Bootstrap Editorial Services, is free to the public and will be held at Conference Rooms A & B at Newton Memorial Hospital. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the lecture will being shortly thereafter. Sebzda, who has a master’s degree and is a licensed counselor, recently received a certificate in thanatology, the study of death and dying, from the Association for Death Education and Counseling. “In counseling suicide survivors, I find that they suffer from many unanswered questions, doubt, guilt, and blame,” Sebzda said. “Understanding the concepts of complicated and disenfranchised grief, and the importance of support systems, may help with their grieving process.” This lecture is not meant to be personal counseling, but is for public educational purposes. However, members of the public are free to contact the Bereavement Center at the Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice for their own counseling purposes. Bootstrap Editorial Services is a volunteer and lay entity based in Highland Lakes, and it has arranged lectures for a local self-help group, the past two years. In arranging lectures, it is currently dedicated to the interests of honest self-help. This event is not sponsored by any affiliated self-help group, the Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice or Newton Memorial Hospital. Freewill donations may be accepted at the event from attendees to cover expenses. For more information, phone Greg at 973-764-5013.