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Grief
September
This in-person monthly gathering is for informal conversation, camaraderie and support for women after the death of a spouse or significant other.
No food or drink is allowed in the conference room.
Other Common Bonds Grief Support groups available include:
This virtual monthly gathering on Zoom is for informal conversation, camaraderie and support for men after the death of a spouse or significant other.
You will receive the Zoom link after registering.
Other Common Bonds Grief Support groups available include:
October
Camp Oz is a daylong grief camp for children in grades 1–12 who have experienced the death of someone in their life. Mayo Clinic Health System Hospice offers Camp Oz for free, thanks to generous donations.
Activities include:
- Arts and crafts
- Fun and games
- Music
- Play
- Small-group time to share about grief and loss
Camp participants can make new friends who have also experienced loss.
A family member or guardian is required to attend the closing ceremony at the end of the day.
Register by Sept. 27 by completing a registration form for each child Use the "Register" link to access the form.
Many caring volunteers are needed to help make this day possible, including those with a mental health background. If you are interested in volunteering, contact Jeanne Petroske-Atkinson, Hospice, at atkinson.jeanne@mayo.edu.
About Camp OZ
Camp Oz was named and modeled after the film "The Wizard of Oz" because grief parallels so many aspects of the movie. Grief is like a tornado. It rips apart and makes a mess of people's lives.
Like the Lion, children need courage to face grief. Like the Scarecrow, grief causes children to have a foggy brain. Like the Tin Man, it may feel like children's hearts are ripped out, and they just want to feel whole again. Like Dorothy, children may feel lost and want to go "home again." The journey of grief takes children down a road of many twists and turns, but eventually, it can lead to healing and acceptance.
This virtual six-week series on Mondays is for adults to explore grief as a natural process, allowing participants to learn about the grief process and connect with others who are grieving the death of a loved one. Attend all sessions.
Register by one day prior to your selected series start date. After registering, you'll receive a Zoom link.
Topics include:
- Common reactions to grief
- Remembering special memories
- Healthy ways of coping
- Adjusting to new roles in life
- Defining what normal means again
- Keeping or changing traditions
- Finding hope
This in-person monthly gathering is for informal conversation, camaraderie and support for men after the death of a spouse or significant other.
No food or drink is allowed in the conference room.
Other Common Bonds Grief Support groups available include:
This virtual monthly gathering on Zoom is for informal conversation, camaraderie and support for women after the death of a spouse or significant other.
You will receive the Zoom link after registering.
Other Common Bonds Grief Support groups available include:
Each fall, Mayo Clinic Health System and Gundersen Health System host this event to help those who have lost a baby. We invite you to join us at this service to remember pregnancy loss, stillbirth, and newborn or early infant death.
Please extend this invitation to family members, friends and clergy who wish to attend. Call 608-392-2560 for more information or with questions. No registration is necessary.
This group is for people who have experienced the death of a loved one. Participants meet weekly for eight weeks to share stories, explore the process of grief and healing, and find comfort in knowing they are not alone.
Hospice Department staff host the group.
This group is limited to 10 participants. Registration is required. Call for more information or to register.
An evening group also is available.
This group is for people who have experienced the death of a loved one. Participants meet weekly for eight weeks to share stories, explore the process of grief and healing, and find comfort in knowing they are not alone.
Hospice Department staff host the group.
This group is limited to 10 participants. Registration is required. Call for more information or to register.
A morning group also is available.
November
This six-week class is open to anyone who has suffered the death of a loved one and is grieving. The course combines the benefits of a grief support group with yoga practices for self-care. Education, support, connection with others, breathing practices, gentle movement and meditation will help relieve grief's physical, mental, social and spiritual symptoms. Participants will use the deeper tools of yoga to help create a safe space for grief and compassionately connect with their deepest selves. The emphasis will not be on physical exercise.
This class will be facilitated by Michele Hoffman, yoga therapist and Kathy Bang, retired hospice social worker.
Registration is required by October 19.
This four-week group is for those who are grieving a loved one and looking for extra support during the holiday season. All are welcome, regardless of where you are in your grief journey. Attend as many sessions as you'd like.
After registering, you'll receive a Zoom link.
Hometown Health Blog
Grief and loss throughout the holiday season
The holidays can be a time of joy and also a time of grief for lost loved ones. Understanding how grief affects you can help provide a sense of empowerment to navigate the holiday season.
The space between grief and growth
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Offering support to the grieving
Feelings of traumatic grief are complex and challenging, with emotional and physical reactions. This Q&A will help you support someone who is grieving, by understanding the nuances of grief.
Cal lives on through books for grieving parents, families
Cal Sharpsteen was stillborn at 38 weeks, but he lives on through "Cal's Corner," a cart filled with books donated by his parents for other grieving families who have lost a child.
Grief during the holidays: Finding hope
The holiday season can be one of the most difficult times of the year when you have experienced the death of a loved one. Get tips for working through your grief and instructions on how to make a keepsake ornament.
Seeking support when grieving
Grief often means change and loss for the way things were. If you have experienced the death of a loved one, this is the hardest kind of grief and change to work through.
The nature of grief: Lessons in loss and life
In the past several years, my family and I have watched many changes take place in our neighborhood. Most significantly, the road outside our house needed to be replaced. With the death of a loved one, we often face a similar change in landscape.
Art to heal the human heart
Time can be hard to measure. We often measure our lives in the tasks and accomplishments of everyday life — a pace of business, providing us with momentum and a feeling of control. In between the noise of the day, quiet moments remind us of those we love and what we have lost.
What is normal when I'm grieving?
Grief is a normal process of adapting that everyone moves through differently. There's no right or wrong way to do it. Know what's normal and when to get help.
Grief during the holidays
During the holiday season, it's important to recognize this can be a difficult time for those who have experienced loss in the recent months or years. Learn how to cope with the grief.