Health Topics
Find information on many health topics, listed A to Z.
Grief
May
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.
Also available is a women's Common Bonds Grief Support group.
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.
Click the Register button to access the registration paperwork. Registrations will be accepted through Sept. 23.
Interested in volunteering?
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.
From The Blog
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.
Grief and loss throughout the holiday season
The holidays can be a time of joy as well as a time of grief for lost loved ones. Understanding how grief and change affects you can help provide a needed sense of empowerment.
The space in between grief and growth
Growth is never easy, and it almost always requires pain along with joy. It is in the space between joy and sorrow that our hearts are strengthened and our bonds renewed.
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.