National Grief Awareness Day recognized annually on Aug. 30

National Grief Awareness Day takes place annually on Aug. 30. Founded by Angie Cartwright in 2014, the day’s goal is to help raise awareness about grief and loss, help people move toward healing and closure, encourage individuals to talk about the topic, and serve as reminder that grief comes in many forms and affects everyone differently. 

Mental Health America (MHA) states that loss of a loved one is one of life’s most stressful events and can cause a significant emotional crisis. According to MHA, there is no standard process for grief, but there are many different emotions that can take place, including:

• Anger
• Denial
• Disbelief
• Guilt
• Sadness
• Shock
• Yearning

Coping with grief is vital to an individual’s mental health, and even though some may reference the “stages of grief,” there is no real guide to mourning. 

Psychologists call the persistent, destructive grief that can follow an especially painful loss “complicated grief.” Yale psychologist Holly Prigerson has estimated that 15% of people who have lost a loved one reach this emotional low point. 

Grieving is also a form of illness, according to many studies. In some cases, it may be as debilitating as a physical illness. Many who experience grief feel numb, exhausted, disorganized and confused during the grieving process. Studies have linked to grief to physical pain and illness. One example includes:

•  Grief Can Be Heartbreaking for People Battling Heart Failure

Many articles and other resources are available to assist individuals with grief. For example, SupportLinc, provider of behavioral health services for Purdue’s West Lafayette campus, has several online resources, including: 

• Flash Course: Coping with Grief
• Grief and Stress – article
• Grief, Bereavement and Coping With Loss of a Loved One From Cancer – article
• Understanding Cumulative Grief – article
• When Your Spouse Dies: Coping With Grief and Loss – article
• Grief and Loss – article
• The Grieving Teen – article

MHA offers a helpful fact sheet titled “Finding the Positive After Loss,” which includes facts and tips.

Other organizations, such as those listed below, offer even more resources.

• GriefShare, which offers both online and in-person support groups and provides guidance and tips to help individuals through the grief process.
• Grief.com offers a variety of support for those grieving, including a podcast, online grief workshops and more.
• The Center for Grief Recovery and Therapeutic Services provides a list of 20 helpful websites for grieving.
• Pathways Center for Grief and Loss provides an online video library, suggested reading lists, suggested websites and more.

ADDITIONAL MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES

To assist faculty and staff

Review the “Mental Health Resources” webpage for a variety of available resources for faculty and staff, including behavioral health resources for all Purdue campuses 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
• TAO – web- and app-based mental health resource