Good Grief – exploring how creativity can support emotional healing for adults

Good Grief is a collaborative initiative between Waterford City and County Council and Wexford County Council and is funded by Creative Ireland.  It is focused on exploring the role of creativity in supporting self-soothing for adults over 18 years of age in their second year post-bereavement. This group often finds themselves navigating complex emotions as initial support networks may have lessened, yet the grief remains deeply present.

Combining longitudinal research with immersive creative experiences, 36 participants engaged with the programme through eight tailored retreats across multiple venues and artistic disciplines. By partnering with academic institutions and health organisations (Waterford and Wexford Local Authorities, SETU, HSE and Realtá), this community-focused, cross-sectoral approach to bereavement support highlighted the importance of creative expression as a tool for wellbeing and recovery in the later stages of grief.

The project documented outcomes using established research measures, providing valuable insights into the therapeutic potential of creativity beyond traditional clinical approaches. 

Through the creative retreats, participants could find comfort in shared experience and community, discover creative practices that became personal, soothing rituals and develop confidence in using creativity as a tool for emotional regulation and reflection. Each retreat was led by a different artist and explored a unique creative medium, including movement, aromatherapy, mask-making and creative writing. They were each focused on ritual, in an effort to help participants learn how they could turn these practices into personal coping rituals.

While exploring and understanding the role of creativity as a tool for self-soothing and emotional healing, the project provided a supportive space where bereaved individuals could engage with creative practices to process grief, foster resilience, and improve overall wellbeing.

The initiative not only offered participants meaningful creative experiences but also generated valuable research data that highlighted how artistic activities contribute to emotional recovery. The collaboration fostered stronger community links, raised awareness of creative approaches to grief, and positioned creativity as a vital component of mental health support within local authority services.

This hands-on model encourages self-exploration and empowerment, in contrast to more passive support formats. Good Grief also incorporated robust data collection and outcome measurement tools to evaluate the effectiveness of creativity in grief management. This evidence-based approach validates the therapeutic potential of the arts and also supports future funding and policy development. Overall, the project pioneers a new way of addressing bereavement by embedding creativity within local government health and community frameworks.

The Good Grief initiative demonstrated significant quantifiable benefits through its innovative approach to supporting adults in their second year of bereavement. 

To objectively measure this impact, an independent researcher conducted a series of longitudinal interviews with participants over the course of the programme. The researcher utilised the Adult Attitude to Grief (AAG) scale, a validated tool that assesses individuals’ responses to grief across multiple dimensions, including resilience, overwhelm, and controlled grief. 

Through this rigorous evaluation method, it was possible to track changes in participants’ grief attitudes before, during, and after their engagement with the creative self-soothing activities.

Results demonstrated measurable improvements in participants’ ability to manage grief-related emotions, greater acceptance of their loss, and enhanced resilience. Beyond the quantitative data, qualitative feedback from participants highlighted increased feelings of connection, empowerment, and personal growth. Many reported that the creative processes helped them express emotions that were difficult to articulate otherwise, fostering healing and reducing feelings of isolation. The combination of standardised assessment and personal testimony provided a comprehensive picture of the initiative’s effectiveness, confirming that Good Grief successfully supports adults in navigating complex grief experiences while promoting mental health and well-being.

Good Grief’s evidence-based evaluation provides strong support for the therapeutic value of creative arts in bereavement care. The measurable improvements in participant mental health and the increased reach of community-based support exemplify the tangible impact of embedding creativity within public health initiatives.

Good Grief also placed local community involvement at its core, ensuring that the project was responsive, inclusive, and deeply connected to the people it served. From the outset, consultation sessions were held with community members, bereavement support groups, healthcare professionals, and local artists from Waterford and Wexford. This approach helped shape the design and delivery of creative workshops, meeting emotional and cultural needs of participants. 

Local artists and facilitators were recruited to design and run the sessions, empowering the community to lead and contribute creatively to the project. Their involvement provided authentic guidance and fostered a safe space for self-expression and healing. Community hubs such as family resource centres and libraries assisted with participant recruitment, making the initiative accessible and visible within everyday community life. 

Participants were encouraged to share their experiences, creating peer support networks that extended beyond the structured programme. Moreover, partnerships with local health services, charities, and voluntary groups strengthened community ties and helped promote the project widely. 

The community’s active role in co-creating and delivering Good Grief fostered a sense of ownership and pride, which was vital in building trust and encouraging participation. This grassroots engagement ensured the initiative was both meaningful and sustainable within the local context.

The Good Grief initiative was communicated and promoted through a strategic, multi-channel approach to ensure broad awareness among relevant stakeholders, including bereaved individuals, community organisations, health services, and local authorities in Waterford and Wexford. Central to the promotion was collaboration with partner organisations such as SETU, HSE, and Realtà, who helped disseminate information within their networks, reaching individuals who could benefit from the programme. 

Promotional materials were developed to be clear, compassionate, and accessible, including flyers, social media posts, and digital newsletters targeting local community groups and service providers. Information sessions and outreach meetings were held with healthcare professionals, social workers, and community leaders to encourage referrals and support engagement. The initiative also leveraged local media outlets such as radio stations and local newspapers. This targeted and collaborative communication strategy ensured the initiative reached its intended audience effectively, encouraging participation and stakeholder buy-in.

The Good Grief initiative is designed with sustainability and long-term impact at its core. By embedding creative self-soothing practices within community health and arts frameworks, the project creates lasting resources and models that can be adapted and replicated by local authorities, community organisations, and healthcare providers beyond the initial funding period. 

The skills and tools developed, such as creative workshops, peer support, and resource materials, can be tailored to support different demographics, including carers, mental health service users, and community groups dealing with collective grief or stress. 

Long-term, the project fosters a community culture that values mental health, openness around grief, and creative coping strategies. By normalising grief conversations and integrating creative healing into local services, Good Grief contributes to a resilient, compassionate society with improved emotional support networks that endure beyond the lifespan of the project.

Good Grief exemplifies a community-focused, cross-sectoral approach to bereavement support, highlighting the importance of creative expression as a tool for wellbeing and recovery in the later stages of grief.