A new mobile app has been launched to support people suffering grief and bereavement.
Developed by the Centre for Grief and Bereavement, the MyGrief app provides practical advice, tools, resources and information for people suffering grief through their mobile devices.
AMES Australia is supporting the initiative to support members of diverse communities to access it.
AMES Australia CEO said supporting access to the app was in keeping with her organisation’s focus on the health and wellbeing of people from diverse communities.
“Many of the newly arrived refugees we work have suffered trauma or loss. Some have lost loved ones, some grieve for their former homes and lives,” Ms Scarth said.
“And while we see incredible strength and resilience in the refugee and migrants we work with, it is important that they are supported to deal with these things.
“So we look forward working with Centre for Grief and Bereavement and to helping to make it available to as many people in diverse communities as possible,” Ms Scarth said.
The Federal Minister for Health, the Hon Greg Hunt MP, has welcomed the initiative, which is a national community-driven campaign that turns mobile phones into a potential lifesaver and provides instant information on coping with stressful situations.
The app provides free access to an extensive range of advice on many issues of health and wellbeing for children, adults, and families, including fact sheets, videos and on-demand webinars.
Minister Hunt congratulated AMES Australia and the Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement for their work.
“This app marks a significant achievement as it places information and resources at the fingertips of everyone with a mobile phone, which can be downloaded at any time and ready for use in a personal emergency or a major disaster,” Minister Hunt said.
CEO of the Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement Christopher Hall said “Drawing upon the latest evidence, and nearly 25 years of clinical evidence, the MyGrief App provides information, tools, and resources to support bereaved persons and also assists families or friends dealing with grief.
“Every person’s experience of bereavement is different. By answering a few questions, the MyGrief App can provide a number of tailored strategies which best help address your challenges in bereavement,” Mr Hall said.
“In collaboration with AMES Australia, we will be working on adding special additions for Migrants and their families to complement existing information,” he said.
The app is being launched at the Melbourne Multicultural Hub, 506 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne, tomorrow (Thursday) at 12.30 pm. The event will be live streaming on the AMES Australia Facebook page.