Students
Welcome to the Student Page for grief and loss. You are smart for searching for resources about grief and loss. This is a difficult time that can be overwhelming. The tips and resources below will help you. There is a chart with links at the bottom of the page to more helpful resources.
Things you can do if you are grieving:
Face your feelings.
Talk to and spend time with family and friends
Express your feelings in a journal, drawing, painting, or sculpting.
Write a letter to your loved one and keep it somewhere special
Make a book celebrating the time and memories shared with your loved one
Make a box about your loved one with things in it that remind you of him or her
Listen to music or play an instrument
Exercise, play or sport, or join a club
Look after your physical health. Do not use drugs or alcohol.
Don’t let anyone tell you how to feel, and don’t tell yourself how to feel either.
Plan ahead for grief “triggers." Be prepared for holidays, birthdays, holidays.
Draw comfort from your faith if you believe in a higher power
Join a support group through your school, church, or through a counseling center
Make a your own support group and help others experiencing similar feelings
Organize an event to raise money for a good cause, possibly the cause of your loved one's death
Talk to a therapist or grief counselor
Things you can do to help if a friend is grieving:
Acknowledge the situation, do not ignore it. The person usually wants to talk about their loved one.
Express your concern, tell your friend you are sorry for their loss.
Offer your support. Tell your friend to let you know what you can do to help. Ex. run an errand
Ask how he or she feels
Sit with him or her quietly and be there for support
Ask him or her to tell you what your favorite memories of his or her loved one are. Again, he or she wants to talk about their loved one.
DO something for them. Make them something, get them a card, gift, etc. Show them you care.
Grieve with them, do not try to make them "happy" again.
Give them a simple hug and let them know you are here for them
Things NOT to do if a friend is grieving:
"I know how you feel."
Do not try to minimize their pain. Ex. "Well, they were old and lived a good life."
Do not try to explain what God is doing behind the scenes. Ex. "It's part of God's plan."
Do not blame the other person. Ex. "I wonder what you did to deserve this."
"Look at what you have to be thankful for."
"He's in a better place now."
"This is behind you now; it's time to get on with your life."
Statements that begin with "You should" or "You will."
Ignore the situation
Get mad at them for being upset, moody, or mopey
Do not try to make them "happy" again, just be with them and grieve along side them.
(HelpGuide.org, 2012)
The site names in ORANGE are the top sites: