The Student Grief Network

Pleasure to speak with George Hayes for this article in the Financial Times alongside some wonderful colleagues in the sector including Amelia Wrighton from Suicide&Co and Andy Langford from Cruse Bereavement Support. The article raises important questions about the types of support that bereaved people need and how accessible that currently is. I'm a huge advocate for counselling, and believe we should be investing more in this area to ensure people have access to this type of support should they choose it. But we also need to recognise that one approach won't suit everyone. We need to invest in a whole range of services, and we also need to look more widely at shifting the culture around grief so we are better equipped in our communities to organically support ourselves and one another?? https://on.ft.com/3CqMKAP

It’s been a while since I shared what The Student Grief Network actually does (other than shout about grief on LinkedIn) so I thought I’d give a bit of a recap: From its origins as a student society while I was dealing with grief myself, we now work nationally (and occasionally across the globe!) to support students to continue their studies and thrive even in the most difficult circumstances. We recognise bereavement as a key challenge Higher Education, with an estimated 10% of students having experienced a significant loss by the time they finish their studies. But despite it’s prevalence, and the potentially serious impact on a person’s health and wellbeing, academic and career outcomes, and even ability to stay at university, there is a real gap in awareness and support. I've had countless students and staff tell me they've felt unsupported, unequipped, distressed, frustrated, alone… This isn’t anyone’s fault. Grief is a notoriously difficult subject, and we also recognise the multitude of challenges being faced in the sector. University teams can’t specialise in everything. We exist to help by delivering affordable training, consultancy, workshops and events. These services provide support to those experiencing grief, as well as to staff that are working on building a healthier grief culture for their institution. We don’t want to simply stick a plaster on it, but make genuinely helpful and sustainable change. If you want to know more, I can send you our welcome pack - drop me a message with your email! #grief #studentsupport #studentwellbeing #studentmentalhealth

Experiencing loss while we're young can limit the opportunities we have to explore our interests and form a sense of identity. The stress and emotional impact of someone close to us being unwell and/or dying is huge, not to mention the actual time that may be involved in caring for someone or holding things together after a death. While other young people may be exploring what they like and don't like, building connections, and discovering who they are, those experiencing grief may be at capacity. Our energy is needed for getting through the days. As we become adults, we may find that we are indecisive, confused, and unsure how to engage in the more light-hearted parts of our lives. The grief may not be so prevalent, but it may have become our default to worry, attack, or isolate. Emotional turmoil has been our norm, grief our identity. Who are we without this? What do we want to do with our time, when we actually have capacity to explore? Healing is not just about untangling the grief we feel, but experimenting, reconnecting with things we enjoy, and giving ourselves space to grow. https://lnkd.in/eMBDjceY

I wanted to share a post we created for Instagram over the winter break, reflecting on the New Year in relation to grief. We're encouraged to frame this time as a new beginning, but it may be a difficult time when we've experienced loss. While intentions to be happier, healthier versions of ourselves may feel a million miles away, we can still use the New Year as an opportunity to reflect, gently, without too much pressure: - What do you want to let go of from the previous year? - What do you want to bring forward with you? - Are there any new things you want to invite in? However you're feeling right now and whatever happened through 2024, I hope that 2025 is gentle on you. I hope you are able to find moments of peace and joy ??

Loved speaking on the University of Leeds AHC Wellbeing Podcast recently. You can hear students sharing their experiences and reflections from us at The Student Grief Network ?? One of the themes I speak about is cultural difference in grief. Our background and lived experience impact the way we deal with loss and the kind of support we need. We can consider belief systems, rituals and traditions, attitudes towards mental health, community and family structures, barriers to services and more... These considerations are woven through our work, including in our training programmes. Of course there are no straightforward answers, and one of the most important takeaways is to stay humble. But within this humility, there is opportunity - to connect with people and expand our world view, in relation to grief and beyond. You can listen to the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/em3_mYjW

Really honoured to have my interview article from the previous AHC Newsletter published on the The Student Grief Network blog page! The are so many striking and perceptive blogs on the website, and it's a privilege to be included in the body of work, which can be accessed here: https://lnkd.in/gKXUMt5C

A quick (5 minutes and 18 seconds to be precise) whistle stop tour on what grief actually is and some of the complex ways it can impact us - emotionally, physically, and socially. This isn't about becoming an expect, but laying the foundations so that we are more equipped to support ourselves and each other. This resource is available for students and staff, alongside other videos and articles, via Student Minds' Student Space: https://lnkd.in/e-mn8NJ2 and The Student Grief Network main website: https://lnkd.in/ez4xdHN5

I’m super excited to share the 2nd edition of the University of Leeds Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures Wellbeing newsletter! This month's edition discusses how both going home, or staying in Leeds, over the winter break can be complex for wellbeing; signposts a variety of festive activities in Leeds; includes my monthly content recommendations; shares a December calendar, and includes a comprehensive list of the wellbeing services available at the University of Leeds. Alongside these articles, you can also read my interview with Anna May, the founder of the The Student Grief Network and Executive Head of the Kaplan International Pathways Grief Programmes. I was fortunate enough to interview Anna and discuss how tough it can be to experience bereavement at university. The interview highlights the unique challenges that university poses to those grieving, alongside sharing some of Anna's advice on how to manage grief, or support someone you know that has experienced a loss. I can’t thank Anna enough for her insight and experience, which has been invaluable to this month’s edition! To access the November newsletter use the following link: https://lnkd.in/eKH2tyi8

Today is the start of National Grief Awareness Week, a time to raise awareness about how we cope with grief, how to help others cope, and ways to end stigmas related to grieving. An estimated 10% of students will have lost a close friend or family member by the time they finish university. That’s approximately 280,000 bereaved students across the UK in a given year. Anna May, the founder of?The Student Grief Network,?talks about what grief actually is and how it can impact us. Grief is often misunderstood or simplified when this topic is quite complicated and affects more of us than we might realise. Student Space and the Student Grief Network are here to support students and staff to build a more positive grief culture for students and staff. Watch the full video for advice now: https://ow.ly/x1Hr50UiNpZ #NationalGriefAwarenessWeek2024 #NationalGriefAwarenessWeek24

Not that I ever need an excuse to talk about this, but today is the start of Grief Awareness Week. I'm pleased to be collaborating with Student Minds to improve education around all things loss and grief in universities. Here are a couple of free resources available to you this week... ?? If you work in Higher Education: Join us on 3rd December at 11am for our Supporting Bereaved Students webinar - an introduction to grief within a university context, with some practical takeaways for improving support. I'll be speaking alongside Dr Victoria Wilson-Crane and Geraldine Dufour. Register here: https://lnkd.in/euZfhyja ???? If you're a student: Check out our new video on Student Space. It's a quick introduction to many of the ways grief can impact us (spoiler, it's different for everyone). We hope this is useful whether you want to understand your own journey, or support someone else: https://lnkd.in/e-mn8NJ2 The Student Grief Network Kaplan International Pathways Universities UK Times Higher Education UCAS Nightline Association UMHAN UK UKCISA Let's Talk About Loss The New Normal Charity Office for Students