Grief in the Room

Send us Fan Mail Episode Intro — Marcus Long In April 2026, Martin sat down with Marcus Long ahead of an event hosted by the Metropolitan Police in London — and what followed was one of the most honest, quietly powerful conversations we've had. Marcus is the creator of BS 30480, the UK's first workplace standard for suicide prevention. But before he was that, he was a father. In October 2020, he lost his son Adam to suicide. Adam was twenty-one years old. What strikes you immediately about Marcus is that he doesn't perform grief, and he doesn't perform purpose either. He just means it. Every word. When he talks about not wanting anyone else to feel the way Adam felt, or the way he felt losing him, you know in an instant that this standard was never a project — it was a promise. In this episode, Marcus takes us through what it took to turn the worst moment of his life into something that could genuinely protect people in workplaces across the country — and why he believes there is something in BS 30480 for absolutely everyone, from the largest organisation to a single individual trying to help someone they love. This one stays with you. We hope you'll listen to the whole thing. More information will be landing soon at www.bs30480.co.uk Support the show You can access the resources for each episode by clicking here .

Send us Fan Mail In part one, we explore the experience of growing up in a high-control religious environment and the painful process of questioning long-held beliefs. It looks at the grief, loss, and identity upheaval that follow leaving a faith community, and how stepping away is just the beginning of rebuilding a sense of self and meaning. In the episode, we mention a charity called 'Faith to Faithless'. You can find them by clicking on the following link. https://www.faithtofaithless.com In part two, we will look to equip mental health professionals with insight into the unique grief and trauma experienced by those leaving coercive religious systems, integrating theories of grief with trauma-informed and spiritually sensitive care. Support the show You can access the resources for each episode by clicking here .

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we explore the often-overlooked dimensions of grief connected to chronic health issues, offering insights and tools for counsellors and therapists. Unlike grief following death, chronic illness grief is ongoing, layered, and frequently invisible, encompassing losses of identity, autonomy, relationships, and future goals and plans. We discuss the emotional and relational complexities clients may face, from navigating ambiguous and disenfranchised losses to managing shifting roles within families and communities. Support the show You can access the resources for each episode by clicking here .

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we explore the concept of moral injury (is that phrase new to you? it was to us too!), which can really amplify grief, and how this can be self-inflicted, or inflicted by those around the bereaved person. Support the show You can access the resources for each episode by clicking here .

Send us Fan Mail We dive deeper in this episode into how understanding the neurodivergent experience of grief can help us shape the way that we support someone after a loss. This has now been expanded into a rich self-learning course, which you can sign up for here: https://griefguides.co.uk/course/nd-grief Support the show You can access the resources for each episode by clicking here .

Send us Fan Mail In the first of this two part series on neurodivergence and grief, we explore the experience of being neurodivergent, how it can impact on people, and how it might affect someone's expression and experience of grief. This has now been expanded into a rich self-learning course, which you can sign up for here: https://griefguides.co.uk/course/nd-grief Support the show You can access the resources for each episode by clicking here .

Send us Fan Mail We're joined by the wonderful Julia Bueno, whose book The Brink Of Being has been a guide to navigating the grief of pregnancy loss and infertility struggles for so many people since its publication. You can find out more from Julia here. Support the show You can access the resources for each episode by clicking here .

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we explore the complex relationship between rumination and grief, and look at how rumination could be either a helpful tool, or a hindrance to the grieving process. We discuss the assumptive world theory, the impact of sudden loss, and the role of acceptance in grief. Support the show You can access the resources for each episode by clicking here .

Send us Fan Mail Grief is not as simple as grief. Why? Because we’re more complicated than that, as are our relationships. Life is rarely straightforward, death even less so. Our next podcast episode dives deep into some of the types of grief that people experience, and what we need to know as supporters. Support the show You can access the resources for each episode by clicking here .

Send us Fan Mail Join us as we discuss Mary-Frances O'Connor's ground-breaking work, explained in the book The Grieving Brain. The Grieving Brain has been game-changing for us at Elephants in Rooms, and for the many people we have trained. Mary-Francis's work will literally light up your brain and help you understand the processes that happen as someone grieves. Watch The Grieving Brain video here. Support the show You can access the resources for each episode by clicking here .

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we explore the unique challenges that come with a bereavement by drugs or alcohol, and what we need to know when supporting a client who has experienced this kind of loss. Support the show You can access the resources for each episode by clicking here .

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we explore a key piece of grief theory: the Dual Process model. We'll discuss the meaning behind some of this model's key features and how the insights into the grieving process that it provides can inform our practice when supporting clients with grief and loss. We created this work with Maggie and Henk's collaboration and blessing. Below is part of the email we received after presenting this pod and the accompanying movie, which you can view here. Dear Martin and Trudie, Thanks for sharing your DPM movie. We very much appreciate the clear way the essentials of the model are presented for a lay audience. It was a joy to watch. We feel it gives bereaved people a clear picture of what common grief is about and what they might want to expect: very different from person to person, it can be difficult, and it is hard work, but people do it and get there. We expect people to really appreciate the way you present that message. Thank you both for working in such a prudent and gentle way with the model. We wish you all the best with your fabulous work! Warm wishes, Maggie and Henk Support the show You can access the resources for each episode by clicking here .

Send us Fan Mail Join grief trainers and advocates Martin Roddis and Trudie Bamford as they introduce a new podcast discussing grief and loss and the insights and skills that supporters need. Support the show You can access the resources for each episode by clicking here .