Grief, loss affect mental health; help, support resources available

Many things can impact mental health, including grief and loss.

Mental Health America’s webpage, Bereavement and Grief, states: “The loss of a loved one is life's most stressful event and can cause a major emotional crisis. After the death of someone you love, you experience bereavement, which literally means ‘to be deprived by death.’ ”

Everyone experiences grief and bereavement during a lifetime, which mandates the need for resources, tools and additional assistance managing and coping with their grief and its effects on their mental well-being. Resources available include: 

Behavioral health services for Purdue campuses

SupportLinc – provider of behavioral health services for the West Lafayette campus – provides information and tools via its web portal:

• Grief and Stress
• Grief and Loss
• Grief, Bereavement and Coping with Loss
• Coping with Grief After a Disaster or Traumatic Event 
• Coping with Grief – flash course 

Additionally, SupportLinc counselors are available to meet with individuals via phone, email, text, group support and more. When an employee calls in and speaks with a SupportLinc Care Advocate, they will be referred to counselors that match both their clinical and cultural needs. Call 888-881-5462 or log in to the SupportLinc website to use SupportLinc’s resources.

As part of SupportLinc’s Digital Group Support, there are two upcoming sessions available on grief: 

• Nov. 11 at 10:15 a.m. ET
• Dec. 9 at 10:15 a.m. ET

This 30-minute, anonymous session will teach attendees about the stages of grief, common reactions and healthy ways of coping with their loss. Registration is available via the SupportLinc web portal’s Digital Group Support icon and tile. 

Behavioral health services are available to the Fort Wayne campus via the Bowen Center and the Northwest campus via New Avenues. 

Additional grief support   

• Headspace: Provides an “Understanding grief and loss” fact sheet among other resources.
  
• HealthHub by Valley Oaks: Shares a self-care article on coping with grief and loss.
  
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): Shares personal stories on grief and surviving a loss as well as opportunities for individuals to share their stories along with other mental health resources.
  
• ReachOut – Grief and Loss: Offers a variety of articles on death and grief as well as a ReachOut Online Community, which individuals are welcome to join.
  
• What’s Your Grief: Website about grief that aims to promote grief education, exploration and expression in both practical and creative ways. The site includes a grief podcast, blog, online courses, resources and guidance. 

ADDITIONAL MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES

To assist faculty and staff

Faculty and staff can review the “Mental Health Resources” webpage for a variety of available resources, which support the behavioral health pillar of the Healthy Boiler Program, and information on Purdue’s health plan coverage for mental health and substance abuse. 

To assist students

Faculty and staff who work with students or have a student at home can direct them to the resources below for behavioral health assistance. Note: United Healthcare Student Resources (UHCSR) — medical plan provider for students and graduate students — offers 292 unique mental health providers serving at various locations that are in-network with UHCSR within Tippecanoe County. The list is available here. Additionally, students have access to HealthiestYou, which provides virtual access to mental health care as part of UHCSR’s plan. All services are free for students covered under the UHCSR insurance plan.   

Office of the Dean of Students

• Continuous Network of Support
• Services and Information
• Presentations & Trainings
• Student of Concern Reporting Link

Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS)

• Therapy Services at CAPS
• Self-help Resources
• Group Therapy
• CAPS YouTube channel
• NAMI On Campus – A free, virtual support group on campus.
• Thriving Campus – Service that provides students a way to search for mental health providers in many areas, locally and across the country.
• WellTrack – Interactive, self-help therapy app for students.