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Submitted by Hospice of Marion County
If you have ever experienced the loss of someone you loved, whether it was a dear friend, a family member or even a pet (who is just like a member of the family), you know the pain of loss and how much it hurts. Loss of any kind can and does affect us emotionally, physically, and mentally.
May is National Mental Health Awareness month and this is one of the most important aspects of our lives that we should give special attention to and prioritize. You don’t have to be diagnosed with a mental disorder to appreciate the importance of keeping mentally healthy. Just the stress of everyday life can cause us to feel like we need a mental health checkup to re-evaluate our busy lives and how to reduce the chaos.
The feeling of loss could be any number of things during a normal year – the loss of a spouse, the loss of a job, the loss of celebrating milestones in one’s life with family and friends. Many can’t imagine what it was like to experience the grief of losing a loved one in the midst of the pandemic that never seems to end and the helplessness many felt and some still feel.
During Mental Health Awareness month, we must all remember that mental health is as important as physical health. While we may have little control over physical health, we do have options when it comes to staying grounded while undergoing grief and loss. Learning how to cope and hold loss and joy side by side is the beginning of hope. The feelings for that lost loved one never goes away, but remembering the joy they brought and the lives they touched can help one experience the loss, remember and celebrate them at the same time.
That is where the Monarch Center for Hope & Healing can help. Available at no charge to the Marion County community, the center has been offering adult, teen and children’s programs, counseling for individuals and in group settings for more than a decade. Programs include providing tips and coping mechanisms to help you express grief through simple art or journaling projects, sharing thoughts with others or in a one-on-one session with a trained counselor. In these sessions you’ll learn: 1) What is a normal grief reaction, 2) How can I cope with stress, and 3) What can I use from the past to focus on the future?
The Monarch staff guides people in understanding that grief is natural and necessary to healing. It’s essential to feel the pain, not suppress it. Additionally, our Hospice of Marion County’s Soul Injury program reminds people that you cannot heal what you cannot feel. Community Awareness Manager Jessica McCune shares, “Being able to talk about your feelings is the first step to finding peace in your grief journey and we can help guide people through the grief process.”
Staff are available to work with bereaved families and individuals in person, via phone, email or teleconferencing. Their message is that loss of control over external events does not mean loss of everyone’s wealth of inner strengths. Join others who are navigating and adjusting to grief – You are not alone. The Monarch Center’s phone lines are open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Call (352) 873-7456 to speak with a counselor.
