Supporting Grieving College Students During their Transition to Adulthood

Kristen Stefureac, MSWAMF Program AdvisorNational Students of AMF

I honestly believe that it’s the main reason I was able to stay at Georgetown (which is what my dad wants) rather than moving home. Julie, 2009, Georgetown

Overview

College Student Grief – Background and Research

Introduction to AMF

Overview of National Students of AMF

Supporting Grieving College Students

Grief and the Transition to Adulthood

Although a growing number of programs are dedicated to supporting children who are grieving, most programs for children end at age 18. What happens to young people who are grieving?I felt so alone and isolated in my grief. I was on a campus surrounded by 20,000 other students who I was sure couldn’t begin to grasp what I was dealing with. Danielle, 2011, University of Delaware

College Student Grief

22-30% of college students are in the first year of grieving the death of a family member or close friend

35-48% are within the first 2 years (Balk, 2001; Balk, 2008).

Unique issues on Campus

Already coping with multiple life transitions and stressors:

Geographically distant from their usual support systemsCompeting demand for jobs and making career choices Forging one’s autonomyCoping with academic pressures, and Maintaining a “carefree” social life.

While bereaved students find talking about the death helpful, few non-bereaved peers are comfortable with or willing to talk with the bereaved about death

Impact

Lack of support and isolation can have a profound negative impact on the bereaved academically, developmentally, occupationally, and socially during the college years (Balk & Vesta, 1998)

Bereaved students have reported difficulties with concentrating and studying (Balk & Vesta, 1998; Silverman, 1987)

Varying data regarding GPA and negative academic standing (i.e., probation, dropped, withdrawn) (Servaty-Seib & Hamilton, 2006)

I lost my best friend just two days before I had to return to WOU for finals, which is one of the hardest things I have ever done. Nawwal, 2012, Western Oregon University

Impact on health

Greater risk of many unique problems, including: enduring depression, social isolation/withdrawal, sleep disturbances, risky behaviors, severe and ongoing somatic complaints, and an increased vulnerability for disease and eating disorders

Even in milder forms, a preoccupation with death can disrupt emotional and social functioning

Sadness, anger, guilt, increased/decreased empathy for others, less trust for others

Intrusive thoughts, lowered personal life expectancyI lost the person that gave me life; her life gave my life purpose, but it also resulted in great pain… I struggled with my grief, which affected both my academic and social progress. Tiffany, 2011, NC State University

Interventions on campus Health risks and psychological problems can be mollified or avoided

if proper support and help is made available to the bereaved

Although most college campuses provide counseling services, data shows that these are often underutilized (National Survey of Counseling Directors, 2011)

College students report that they prefer student-led bereavement efforts and discussing loss with their peers (Balk, 1997; Fajgenbaum, Chesson, Lanzi, 2012).

Individuals who use multiple coping strategies are able to more effectively cope with transitions.

The college environment holds great potential for providing more effective support to bereaved students

The challenges and problems that we deal with as students with ailing loved ones are unique and impossibly difficult, but the support of groups such as AMF make them bearable. Tiffany, 2010, Upenn Law School

Recent Research

“Building a Network of Grief Support on College Campuses: A National Grassroots Initiative,” Journal of College Student Psychotherapy, David Fajgenbaum, Benjamin Chesson, Robin Lanzi

Found that university administrators underestimated prevalence of bereavement

Administrators reported that bereaved students needed support from friends more than they did from counselors; however, only one institution has an established system in place to provide peer support

Administrators believed that programs that raise awareness and educate campus members about student bereavement are the most important new programs for universities to offer

Call for change

Servaty Seib & Hamilton (2006) and Balk (2001) have called for the development of interventions to support this population

Combined this identified need with David’s personal experience with bereavement during college Mother diagnosed with brain cancer 2 weeks before

freshman year Very few resources beyond counseling

I feel alone, helpless and guilty for being away from home. David, 2007, Georgetown University

2008 Today Show

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxgnQUIyMow

Overview of National Students of AMF

Began as a support group on Georgetown’s campus

Incorporated as a 501(c)(3) in May 2006

Mission: to support and empower college students grieving the illness or death of a loved one.

It is not all about sadness… it is about cherishing the life you had with your lost loved ones. Loreal, 2012, UGA

Programs of National Students of AMF

AMF campus chapters on college campuses nationwide, which include peer-led support and service groups. Active on 64 college campuses.

Serve as a resource for grieving college students nationwide,

Raise awareness about the needs of grieving college students, and

Host national grief support programs and events, like the National Conference on College Student Grief and National College Student Grief Awareness Week.

Overview of Campus Chapters

Student-led, faculty/staff advised, collaborative, community-based approach that brings together peer-grief support, empowering service activities, faculty mentoring, and university resources.

Support group where bereaved students can relate to peers also facing the unique challenges of grief during their college years

Service group through which the entire campus community can volunteer and raise awareness and funds for causes important to chapter members.

Mentoring program for faculty and staff to connect with a member of the support group

Every school should have a chapter, and every student should know about it. Tiffany, 2009, UPenn

Support Group

Meet every other week for a peer-lead, open-discussion open to ALL grieving college students

Students can share their thoughts, feelings and experiences, NOT advice.

Student training through online resources, AMF advising, monthly calls, and the National Conference

It has been so empowering to be part of a group where they know exactly how I feel even before I’ve told them my story because they’ve all been there, and where they just want to share my experience with me. Lee, 2013, Georgia Southern

Service Group

Open to the entire campus community

Allows students to “fight back” against or champion those causes that have taken their loved ones.

Begins a dialogue on campus about the issues of bereaved college students.

Pioneering research on the benefits of service as a therapeutic tool for healing.

AMF attended the Walk to D’Feet ALS in DC. I felt like I could actually do something besides feel sad and helpless about my dad’s illness. We raised money for the walk and many of my friends and other members of AMF joined me. Julie, 2013, GW

Connecting on Campus

Ways to Connect with AMF

University professors and staff: Reach out to National Students of AMF:

www.studentsofamf.org. We will work with you to find the best strategies for raising awareness for AMF on your campus.

Share with your students about National Students of AMF

If a chapter begins, consider being Faculty Advisor

Ways to Connect with AMF

Community Bereavement Counselors and Staff Connect with AMF www.studentsofamf.org and

we will work with you to identify the colleges in your area.

If AMF chapters exist close to you, we will connect you.

If there are no AMF chapters nearby, we will discuss ways that you might partner with a local college to attract a student leader.

Ways to Connect with AMF

Students: Be there for one another during times of

grief Share with other students about AMF

(www.StudentsofAMF.org) Encourage your peers to channel their

energy towards positive outlets Attend the National Conference on

College Student Grief on July 26-28 Consider starting up a chapter of Students

of AMF on your campus

Ways to Connect

ALL: Consider becoming a part of the National

Students of AMF Leadership Team (Board of Mental Health Professionals, ADEC-liaison, Hospice-Liaison, Children’s Bereavement Center-liaison, consistent volunteer position, event-only volunteer position)

Serve as a “Voice in the Community” during our awareness campaigns

Look into Bereavement Leave Policy (Heather Servaty-Seib) on your campus

References

Balk, D. E. (2001). College student bereavement, scholarship, and the university: A call for university

engagement. Death Studies, 25, 67-84.

Balk, D. E. (2008). The 22-30% Prevalence Rate in College Student Bereavement: “So What?” In H. L.

Servaty-Seib & D. J. Taub (Eds.), Assisting Bereaved College Students. Thousand Oaks, CA: Jossey-

Bass.

Balk, D. E. & Vesta, L. C. (1998). Psychological development during four years of bereavement: A

longitudinal case study. Death Studies, 22, 23-41.

Fajgenbaum, D. C. (2007). College Student Bereavement: University Responses, Programs and Policies,

and Recommendations for Improvement. Senior Thesis Submission. To be submitted for publication.

Servaty-Seib, H. L. & Hamilton, L. A. (2006). Educational performance and persistence of bereaved college

students. Journal of College Student Development, 47, 225-234.

Silverman, P. R. (1987). “The impact of parental death on college-age women. Psychiatric Clinics of North

America, 10, 387-404.

Thank you!