September 30, 2023
by Elizabeth Pratt
Rates of prolonged grief disorder are likely to be higher than before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Researchers from the UK found that rates of prolonged grief disorder are already three times higher than pre pandemic.
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July 24, 2020
by Elizabeth Pratt
More than one million Americans have lost a close relation due to COVID-19, and that number is likely to rise.
An analysis from the University of Southern California found that on average, for every COVID-19 death, there are nine people left to grieve. These include parents, grandparents, siblings, spouses and children.
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As we enter this world as an infant, we grow, we learn, we get older, and we eventually die. It’s the natural order of life. One does not know when he or she will die or how he or she will die, yet we know that day is coming. For some individuals that day comes sooner than later as it did for Bobbi Kristian Brown. On July 26, 2015, Bobbi Kristina Brown the only child from pop icon Whitney Houston and R&B Singer Bobby Brown died that Sunday night. She was 22 years of age.
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April 16, 2015
by Mary Horn, Psy.D.
On March 24, 2015, tragedy changed the lives of everyone who had a friend or loved one on Germanwings flight 9525 that was en route from Barcelona, Spain to Dusseldorf, Germany. In the initial phase of the investigation and recovery effort, most evidence points to the flight’s Co-pilot thoughtfully and methodically locking the cockpit door when the Captain went to the restroom, and purposely steering the plane into a mountain in the French Alps at 400 miles per hour.
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December 2, 2014
by Marti Wormuth, MA
As the holidays grow ever closer, some people have a lot on their mind, and it's sad to see them try and work through their feelings during this time of year. This is especially true if someone has been trying to work their way through the loss of a loved one. Losing a loved one, whether it was days before or years before a holiday, gives the holidays a bittersweet feeling, and it can be really hard for people to work through those emotions in a healthy manner. Why are the holidays so hard after a loss?
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November 13, 2014
by Marti Wormuth, MA
One of the most difficult things to deal with in life is losing someone that you love. But when they take their own life in some way, the suffering becomes that much worse for those left behind. Questions go through your mind and you aren't totally sure how to deal with it. And that's okay - it's hard to be the people that are left behind from such a painful experience. International Survivors of Suicide Day is November 15th, and this day is to help people realize that they are not alone in this journey, and that they do not need to feel afraid.
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July 14, 2014
by Cathy England, MA
Mental health emergencies can occur both in individuals who are receiving treatment, and in those who have never had a mental health issue in the past. The difference between a need for treatment and an emergency can be difficult to discern. However, there are some well documented warning signs that can help to determine what type of intervention is best suited to an individual.
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June 13, 2014
by Marti Wormuth, MA
Many people have lost a parent, but very few people have had to deal with the pain of losing a child. It can be a really difficult thing to go through if you're a parent, and sometimes, the pain that fathers deal with during it is left behind. Both mothers and fathers have to work through the heartache, albeit differently, so it's important to take a look at that pain and see what we can do in order to help our way through it. Father's Day is coming up, and this day can be incredibly painful and heartbreaking for fathers who have lost a child in some way, shape or form.
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March 17, 2014
by LuAnn Pierce, LCSW
Grief is inevitable for those of us who choose to love. As difficult as the death of a loved one may be, our ability to cope with emotional distress can lessen the burden. As parents, one of your jobs is to help kids learn to cope, and how to think.
FB- Children don't naturally understand loss, difficult life situations, or the grieving that accompanies them. LuAnn Pierce, LCSW, explains the ways you can help your child cope during these times.
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When a loss hits you, people are at a loss as to what to do, what to say, how to help. If you yourself have suffered a loss what did you most need from others? Think about how you wanted people to respond and ask yourself if that would fit in the current scenario. If you have not suffered a loss, ask yourself the same question, if it did happen what would you like from others.
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