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In Response to Yale’s Mental Health Policy
The policy states that students are encouraged to take time off from school if they need to to tend to their mental health. That's the good news. The bad news is that they then have to reapply to the school to be re-admitted.
Students Need More Support in College
Overall, college drop out rates in 2021 reached 15%. And for many students, the reason for this is grief.
Inner Harbor’s Two Year Anniversary
Each anniversary reminds me of why I do this work. Inner Harbor was created out of the incredible grief I experienced, and watched my own children experience, when their friend died. And with each success, I think about him and carry the opposing feelings of pride in the work, and longing and guilt over his death.
Transitioning to College after Loss
With so much focus on the benefits of higher education, and the hard work it took to get there, many students (and their families) are surprised about the not-always-so-smooth transition that they experience as they move to college.
Lessons on Grief from a College Intern
As I am starting to stuff my clothes into those blue Ikea bags and getting ready to move back to school, I wanted to reflect on what I have learned from immersing myself in this type of work.
The Cost of Death
Between end of life care and funeral costs, death can be a huge expense that most people do not consider until they have to. How can someone navigate the financial aspect of death while processing the grief they are facing, especially if the death was too young or too soon?
Mass Gun Violence and Grief
“I mean all I have to say is that I am heartbroken. People keep on saying that it’s naive to say, ‘I didn’t think it would ever happen here,’ but I truly didn’t. You could never understand it if you haven’t had it happen to you…I just feel numb and disconnected.”
That’s what my friend Hannah, a resident of Highland Park Illinois, told me a few weeks after the Highland Park shooting on the Fourth of July. She was not at the parade when the shooting occurred. But the effects of grief she feels for her community are very real.
Emotional Support and Students of Color
Despite having higher rates of suicide and mental health challenges, students of color are two times less likely than white students to seek help for struggles such as depression and anxiety.
Homelessness, Grief and the College Student
The grief associated with homelessness has long-term mental health consequences far beyond the obvious financial difficulties.
Grief is Political
Just like how each individual experiences the damage of a tornado differently, every person in America can have different grief reactions to the same event. Similar to how some buildings are demolished in a tornado and some are left unscathed, some individuals can carry on with their daily lives, feeling unaffected, while others are mourning the rights that they lost and the uncertainty of their futures.
Support for LGBTQ+ Friends
“[My friends’] response was what felt like an eternity of silence. No one knew how to respond and everyone was waiting for someone else to speak up first.”
Using the Word “Dead”
Let's not confuse children, or fool ourselves, that the person is in a better place, or eternally resting. They died. Let's make an effort to create a positive death culture, where we can talk about the hard stuff too.
Father’s Day for Grievers
I've been thinking a lot about my dad this weekend. Maybe it's because Father's Day is coming up.
How to Avoid Replacing the Loss
Tell me if you can relate to this story: You're a small child (or you're the parent of a small child). The goldfish that you've been caring for dies. But you don't know it because your parent replaces it while you are at school before you find out. You live in blissful ignorance.
Unfortunately, This is Us
Last Tuesday, I was excited to share my thoughts about the series finale of This is Us. But then 19 school children and two teachers were killed.
Who is Responsible for Student Mental Health?
I know how hard it is to squeeze in a ton of information on subject matter and make sure we are assessing student comprehension. Now we also have to make sure their mental health is OK? Is that too much to ask of professors?
Re-Entry is Hard
So many of us have been working on re-entering the world. We have been paying attention to our own comfort levels as we consider adding more activity and people into our lives. But a whole group of young people are experiencing another level of re-entry: returning home from college.
Intent and Impact in Grief Support
Sometimes the intent of our behavior has a different impact than we wanted or expected.
What Kids can Teach us about Grief
I met with a group of about 20 children ranging in age from 6 to 11. We hung out for a bit and then settled in to do an activity based on their worries. I gave them some art supplies and a little direction asking them to put their worries on paper. It could be about the pandemic or any other worries they had. Then they had a chance to share their worries with everyone else. And do you know what I found out? They have a lot of the same worries as I do!
Sometimes We Need a Change
I've been noticing something lately. I've gotten into a routine. And that's typically a good thing. But I've also noticed that I've become a bit rote.