While one in five people will experience mental illness over the course of their lifetimes, everyone will face challenges that can and will affect their mental health. Observed every year on October 10, World Mental Health Day seeks to raise awareness of mental health issues and highlights efforts to support mental health.
Acknowledging the state of one’s mental health issues is important, and so is being able to seek help when you’re struggling. ACA has provided resources to support counselors around the world who play a crucial role for those struggling with their mental health.
Losing a loved one is one of life’s most difficult experiences. Many of us will navigate the grieving process with the help of family, friends and community support. We allow ourselves to experience the pain of the loss, accept it, adjust to it and celebrate the time we shared with that person.
But everyone grieves at a different intensity and pace. When you’re grieving, you may wonder whether your emotions are a normal reaction to the loss or have become severe enough to require some professional help.
Some people face obstacles in healing emotionally after a loss. They may become stuck in their grief, mired in feelings of fear, helplessness, sadness and even anger. Some may want to remain in a state of grief, fearing memories of the deceased will otherwise fade.
People in bereavement may show signs of complicated grief, also known as prolonged grief. The Cleveland Clinic describes this type of grief as intense and debilitating and lasting beyond 12 months. An estimated 7%–10% of bereaved adults will experience a form of complicated grief, according to a 2021 study. They may manifest sleep disturbances, appetite changes, suicidal thinking, substance abuse and relationship difficulties. These symptoms can interfere with functioning at work or school.
A loved one’s death may occur suddenly as the result of, for example, an accident or suicide. The shock and sadness can overwhelm a survivor’s coping skills, leading to traumatic grief.
The Trauma Survivors Network lists the common symptoms of traumatic grief as:
In its harshest forms, grief can lead to a variety of psychiatric conditions. A study involving 206 individuals experiencing prolonged grief found that 55% were diagnosed with major depressive disorder, 48% with PTSD and 62% with anxiety disorders.
Children may act differently than adults when grieving a loss. According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, children may exhibit symptoms such as:
If you or your family have been struggling to overcome the loss of loved one, a counselor can help process your grief so you can move forward in your life. Counseling can help you understand the impact of the loss, learn to honor and celebrate the person you’ve lost without trauma or impairment. Counselors are also trained to understand and address the developmental, cultural, gender, and spiritual influences on grief, to provide you with the care that’s appropriate for you.