Grief is the natural response to loss
Since the dawn of time, there has been one inevitable truth: every living thing on this planet eventually dies. It would seem that in our advanced culture, we could discuss something so incredibly commonplace. However, grief is a taboo subject in many cultures because society values positivity and emotional control. The American emphasis on individualism promotes the idea that people should handle their problems independently and display strength and resilience.
The fact remains that more than three million Americans die every year. Researchers estimate that for every death, nine people are affected by bereavement [1], leaving approximately 27 million U.S. citizens walking around grieving a loved one. Include those grieving the loss of a beloved pet and add another 25,000 annually. Thousands more mourn the loss of a job, marriage or other relationship. This statistic is greater than the individual population of any state in the country except California or Texas. Imagine if everyone in your state were consumed with grief.
Unaddressed grief can contribute to numerous mental and physical health concerns. Learning how to have conversations about dying, death and grief is vital to raising awareness, stripping away the stigma of grief and helping shatter the taboo. Normalizing emotional responses to grief and recognizing its physical and mental impact is crucial to providing adequate support and healing its effects on families and communities.
Use the information, tip sheets, videos and other resources in this toolkit to help you, a loved or co-worker through the grief journey. While grief is an individual and often isolating experience, you are not alone.
Resource: [1] University of Cambridge, 2021
