Grief and Bereavement

Mental Health
and Wellness Portal
Coping with typical stressors of life


Grief and Bereavement

People cope with the loss of a loved one in different ways. Most people who experience grief will cope well. Others will have severe grief and may need treatment. There are many things that can affect the grief process of someone who has lost a loved one.

They include:

  • The personality of the person who is grieving
  • The relationship with the person who died
  • The grieving person’s coping skills and mental health history
  • The amount of support the grieving person has
  • The grieving person’s cultural and religious background

Bereavement is the period of sadness after losing a loved one through death. Grief and mourning occur during the period of bereavement. Grief and mourning are closely related. Mourning is the way we show grief in public. The way people mourn is affected by beliefs, religious practices, and cultural customs. People who are grieving are sometimes described as bereaved. Grief is the typical process of reacting to a loss.

Common grief reactions include the following:

  • Feeling emotionally numb
  • Feeling unable to believe the loss occurred
  • Feeling anxiety from the distress of being separated from a loved one
  • Mourning along with depression
  • A feeling of acceptance

Helping a child after a parent's death -  American Cancer Society

Resources 

Hope Hospice
Phone: 239-482-4673 OR 1-800-835-1673

Valerie's House - Grief Support for Children

Valerie’s House
Phone: 239-204-5804

Valerie’s House is the first and only organization in Southwest Florida with its sole mission to help children grieve the loss of a loved one. At Valerie's House, children will know other children like them, heal together and learn loss doesn't have to limit their dreams. Valerie's House programs also provide support for parents and caregivers as they cope with the loss of a spouse or child. We provide our group support programs at no cost to your family.