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What to know about national grief awareness day

As a society, we tend to shy away from topics like death and loss. National Grief Awareness Day aims to counteract this. Learn more about the holiday and why it’s so important to acknowledge grief.

Ashley Laderer By Ashley Laderer
Grieving woman.

Updated on Oct 22, 2024

Anyone who’s ever lost someone or something important to them knows how painful it can be. Grief can feel like a mix of emotions: all-consuming sadness, guilt, anger, and more. It turns your whole world upside down, and it isn’t easy to feel “normal” again.

On August 30th every year, we observe National Grief Awareness Day to raise awareness about the importance of understanding and supporting the grieving process.

Read on to learn about National Grief Awareness Day, the importance of acknowledging grief, the mental health impacts of grief, how to help someone who’s grieving, and more.

Introduction to National Grief Awareness Day

This “holiday” was created in 2014 by grief expert Angie Cartwright. Since losing multiple people who were close to her, she personally learned a lot about the grieving process and has been raising awareness and educating people around the world on how to manage grief and move forward.

Organizations such as the American Psychological Association and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention recognize the holiday and promote healthy, open conversations surrounding grief.

Understanding grief

The American Psychological Association defines grief as “the anguish experienced after significant loss, usually the death of a beloved person.” It’s part of the human experience – a natural response to loss, and it can be incredibly painful. However, it can also be complex and multifaceted, complete with mixed emotions and complicated feelings.

Stages of grief

Grief is often not a linear journey; waves of emotions don’t always happen in any particular order. The five stages of grief, defined by Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, are:

Types of grief

Understanding the different types of grief and their manifestations can help in managing the grieving process more healthily and effectively. Three main types of grief are:

Ways to observe National Grief Awareness Day

Looking to raise awareness and compassion around grief? National Grief Awareness Day is a perfect opportunity.

There are many ways to participate in National Grief Awareness Day. You can make a difference by creating a better understanding surrounding grief, as well as expressing support for those who are grieving. Here are a few ideas:

How therapy can help with grief

Therapy is an incredible, transformative method to help you cope with grieving. Especially when you work with a mental health professional specializing in grief, you will learn effective tools for coping, processing, and moving forward. “Therapy helps by allowing that space to share the hardest and darkest emotions, and it helps with teaching skills to manage those emotions,” says Jen Garvin, licensed mental health counselor with Grow Therapy.

The importance of acknowledging grief

“Feelings of grief can be debilitating, which leads to us wanting to hide those emotions away and not feel them,” says Garvin. “However, it is best to acknowledge and work through those feelings so that true healing can occur and so we can learn appropriate and healthy skills to process the loss.”

Emotional and physical effects of unacknowledged grief

Ignoring grief can result in unresolved emotional pain, depression, and even physical pain and discomfort. For example, especially in the case of complicated grief, you could experience symptoms such as:

Processing your grief in therapy can help reduce the emotional and physical pain in the long run.

Therapy for grief

There are some forms of therapy that may be especially helpful for grief, such as:

Therapy is incredibly effective for grief because it provides a safe space to process a loss while learning invaluable coping skills. By working with a specialized mental health professional, you can navigate your grief process more effectively with better support as you find the path to moving forward.

You may also consider support groups or group therapy to cope with grief. Call your local mental health centers to ask if they hold any grief/bereavement support groups.

The intersection of grief and mental health

Grief has an undeniable impact on mental health. For example, someone who has never experienced depression before may find themselves grappling with depressive symptoms even long after a significant loss. It’s also possible for grief to exacerbate pre-existing mental health conditions. “When we add in the stress from grief with another mental health condition then we are doubling the stress that is already in play. It can lead to higher amounts of anxiety, depression, and more,” Garvin says.

The overlap between grief and mental health issues can create a complex experience for those affected. This is why it’s crucial to address both aspects at once to keep your mental well-being in check.

Because grief and mental health are so closely connected, integrating grief therapy with treatment for mental health disorders can offer more holistic support to address your emotions fully. This way, the intense emotions surrounding grief and the symptoms of mental health conditions are tackled together. Through this approach, you’ll learn how to cope with and manage the symptoms related to both grief and whatever other condition you may be facing.

Supporting someone who is grieving

It’s crucial to show support, empathy, and compassion to a grieving loved one. Here are a few quick tips to help a grieving friend, family member, or partner.

Lesser-known aspects of grief

While grief is a universal human experience and an inevitable part of life, it manifests differently depending on factors such as age, culture, and even the influence of technology.

Grief in children and adolescents

Grief can hit young people hard – but it doesn’t always present the same way it does in adults. Young kids don’t have the vocabulary or emotional maturity to articulate their feelings, which results in grief being expressed through changes in behavior. Some examples of how younger children express grief are:

Teens, on the other hand, might withdraw, act out, or struggle with academic performance. If you have a child or teen who’s grieving, keep an eye on them for any changes to mood or behavior. Show your support and let them know you’re here to help.

Cultural differences in grieving practices

Different cultures have different ways of grieving. These differences are influenced by religious beliefs, social norms, and historical traditions. For example, in certain cultures, sadness and grief are expressed very openly, and it’s common to be outwardly emotional and mourn for a long period of time. In other cultures, grief is expressed more privately.

There is no “right” or “wrong” way to grieve. Understand that if someone’s grieving process is highly different from yours, it could be due to their cultural background – and that’s okay.

The impact of social media on grieving

Social media adds another layer to grieving. The impact is two-fold. Many people love how social media can feel like a supportive community where people grieving a shared loved one can come together and share memories and send and receive condolences. Of course, it’s nice to have photos of your loved ones to keep as memories, too.

However, social media also has the potential to bring you more constant reminders than you’d like about the dead, such as Facebook memories, tagged photos, or even birthday notifications. Depending on the individual, they could find this comforting or upsetting.

It’s important to find a balance with social media to maintain your well-being while grieving.

Finding a qualified grief therapist

Looking for professional help for grief, but not sure where to start? Grow Therapy can help you discover the right therapist who can help transform your life and improve your mental health. Moving forward and thriving after loss is possible with therapy.

On Grow Therapy’s site, you can use our filters to search for therapists in your state who accept your insurance plan. We offer both online therapy and in-person care from qualified professionals with all types of specialties, from all different backgrounds. Get started today to find the right therapist for you and start healing.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Grow Therapy connects clients, therapists, and insurance companies to make mental healthcare simple to access.

  • We make it easy to find a therapist who looks like you and can support your needs. The right therapist is one who ensures you feel safe and comfortable. If you need help choosing, read these tips or contact our scheduling team by phone at 786-244-7711. More contact options are available here.

  • We conduct an intensive interview process to ensure our therapists have the skills, training, and experience to help you grow.

  • People who use their insurance save an average of 78% on the cost of therapy. Sessions cost an average of $21 with insurance, but will vary depending on your plan. Get a cost estimate, learn more about how to check your coverage, or contact your insurance company for more details.

About the author
Ashley Laderer Ashley Laderer

Ashley Laderer has been a mental health advocate since 2016, when she first publicly wrote about her own battle with anxiety and depression. After hearing how others were impacted by her story, she decided to continue writing about anything and everything mental health. Since then, she’s been published in Teen Vogue, SELF, Refinery29, NYLON, VICE, Healthline, Insider, and more.

This article is not meant to be a replacement for medical advice. We recommend speaking with a therapist for personalized information about your mental health. If you don’t currently have a therapist, we can connect you with one who can offer support and address any questions or concerns. If you or your child is experiencing a medical emergency, is considering harming themselves or others, or is otherwise in imminent danger, you should dial 9-1-1 and/or go to the nearest emergency room.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Grow Therapy connects clients, therapists, and insurance companies to make mental healthcare simple to access.

  • We make it easy to find a therapist who looks like you and can support your needs. The right therapist is one who ensures you feel safe and comfortable. If you need help choosing, read these tips or contact our scheduling team by phone at 786-244-7711. More contact options are available here.

  • We conduct an intensive interview process to ensure our therapists have the skills, training, and experience to help you grow.

  • People who use their insurance save an average of 78% on the cost of therapy. Sessions cost an average of $21 with insurance, but will vary depending on your plan. Get a cost estimate, learn more about how to check your coverage, or contact your insurance company for more details.