'It's complicated': how the passing of the monarch has prompted more than just an outpouring of grief
Published by Professional Social Work Magazine, 12 September, 2022
The Queen’s death has triggered a myriad of responses showing our reaction is more complex than 'a nation in mourning'...
Amid all the tributes, organisations and charities have been reflecting on what the loss of the Queen means for the sector and those it supports.
The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) paid tribute to the Queen’s "central role in British life" and how the reaction to her passing is "complex".
“It can feel linked to responses of personal grief and loss, and certainly to the loss of an era,” Cathie Williams, ADASS chief executive, said. “Grief and unexpected change are difficult life challenges. There may be people close to us struggling to understand and make sense of these difficult emotions. People needing care and support may feel even more isolated.”
Professor Vic Rayner OBE, CEO of the National Care Forum, said: “Many of the people in care will be thinking about (the Queen) and remembering the huge part she has been in all their lives… Care settings will be deeply saddened by the news of her death at this time."
Complex legacy
The Commonwealth Organisation for Social Work (COSW) tweeted: "(We) share with others in the Commonwealth and around the world a deep sadness at the news of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Head of the Commonwealth.
"Several COSW leaders have met the Queen since our formation and have seen the significance of her contribution to Commonwealth relationships. The Queen, as a person, has been an example of commitment and service which is well understood and recognised by social workers. May she rest in peace."
Community leader Monique Auffrey remembers meeting the Queen and reflected: "I had the incredible honour of meeting Her Majesty at Buckingham Palace in 2009 in my role with @CwlthSocWk. I will never forget that experience or honour."
But in Kenya, the national response has been tempered by memories of colonial rule, and the quelling of the Mau Mau uprising in the 1950s at the start of the Queen's reign. While the country's leaders have paid tribute, expressing "great sorrow and a deep sense of loss", elsewhere there has been anger at the "erasure of history" and acknowledgement that, for many, the pain of the past is still very real.
In Jamaica, the population is divided in its loyalty to the Crown, with 50 per cent of Jamaicans in favour of becoming a republic.
Mental health
Cruse Bereavement has acknowledged that for many people this is a confusing time, as along with grief for a monarch so central to UK life, there are unexpected emotions: “It can sometimes feel surprising to grieve someone we didn’t know personally. It can even feel like we don’t have the right to be so upset. But there are many reasons why you and many millions of others might be affected."
For others, a national time of loss brings back memories of more personal bereavements, or can lead to feelings of uncertainty: "The Queen has been a constant in our lives for so long that sometimes if has felt that she would always be around.
"However old someone is, their death is always a shock. And with someone like our Queen, who has been part of the shared public landscape for so long, not being around can make the world feel like a less safe and certain place. This can make us feel vulnerable."
Mental health charity Mind has been reflecting on what it calls "collective grief" - when a major loss is felt by a large group of people - and issued advice at its website.
“Collective grief can happen when a community experiences a significant loss together. This might be following the death of a significant public figure, or a tragedy that affects a local community. It could occur at a wider national level too.
“These kinds of major events can impact us even if we didn't personally know those who have died. They can bring up many difficult emotions and remind us of other losses in our lives. And seeing others sad could make us feel sad ourselves. But we might also find comfort in sharing and processing these events as a community.”
Older people
Age UK has published guidance on the period of royal mourning to help older people navigate the coming days. The charity’s national director Caroline Abrahams said: “I suspect that in general, the older you are, the more unsettling it is to experience the loss of someone who has been part of your life for such a long time, even if you never actually met them.
“Even as the world has changed around us, somehow the Queen has always been there as a symbol of continuity. In a society in which examples of ageism are not exactly hard to find, the Queen has been a fantastic model of what it is like to grow older, and how you still retain the essence of who you are, even as your body gradually becomes less robust with the passing of the years.”
Choice Support, which assists autistic people, people with learning disabilities and/or mental health needs issued a tribute urging people to be kind: “Her Majesty has been a constant in our lives for many years, and for most of us, the only monarch we have known.
“She bought a great deal of joy to many. This is a time to think of each other and be kind; to listen to the people we support and families who may want to reflect on the Queen and her 70 years of service to our country.”
Children
Those with responsibilities for the welfare of children in the UK highlighted the impact on young people. Children’s commissioner for England Dame Rachel de Souza tweeted: “This is a sad moment for the children of England as it is for all of us. She was Queen for generations of children.”
Welsh children’s commissioner Rocio Cifuentes added: “Many thousands of Welsh children had the pleasure of meeting Her Majesty the Queen during her incredible years of public service. She was warm, kind, and made them feel special.”
And Koulla Yiasouma, Northern Ireland’s commissioner for children and young people, tweeted: “A nation had lost its monarch and a family a beloved mother, grandmother, aunt and great grandmother. Deepest sympathy to all who are mourning. Many children celebrated her Jubilee, and over the next few days they will be supported to understand death and loss.”
Children’s bereavement charity Winston’s Wish had this advice: “Children are inquisitive individuals and love to ask questions and really understand what is going on and, for some children, this may be the first time they hear the words 'death' or 'died'.
“They may hear things on the radio and television, in schools or across their social media channels which could prompt a lot of questions and curiosity, wanting to know what it all means.
“It is better to be open, honest and direct when someone has died. Without clear information, children tend to fill the gaps to try and make sense of what is happening.”
Social work tributes
BASW issued the following statement on the news of the death of the Queen: “The Queen had been the Head of State for the United Kingdom for over 70 years, celebrating her Platinum Jubilee in June 2022. She was the longest serving monarch in UK history and has been lauded throughout her life for her personal qualities and dedication to public service.
“BASW offers our deepest condolences to the Royal Family, her friends and all those who mourn her both in the UK and abroad.”
The Social Workers Union tweeted: “SWU joins the Trade Union movement in expressing our deep sorrow at the death of HM Queen Elizabeth. The Queen was a true ambassador full of extraordinary dedication, duty and service with inclusive values. Our thoughts and condolences are with the Royal family at this sad time.”