Community blog

A recent article in The Times shows us how university welfare systems are failing bereaved students, and why we need more well-informed, compassionate and hands on support.

Fole recently founded Good Grief, a community to connect anyone who has been affected by cancer. Here she shares some of the ways she has personally been impacted, from losing her Grandma and then her Mum, to finding out the chances of developing cancer herself are significantly higher than average.

I’m not sure I believe in ‘letting go’ of grief, or what that would even entail, but I wanted to reflect on the idea of carrying someone with us as we reconnect to the good in our life. This is a short creative piece based on a dream I had years ago.

Whatever our age, life stage, whether they were loving and close, or had a more complex relationship with us, or none at all, when we lose a parent, it is felt deeply in every cell of our body. We can feel like we are losing essence, or a part of us is leaving. We may wish to leave with them. The everyday can feel meaningless. The world is different.

I have been wildy struck with the fact that I lost a dad who I didn’t have in the first place – anyone with an addict parent will understand this. I lose a possible opportunity in the future to try and build a relationship with someone who I am half of.

Evee shares her experience of university life after she lost her mum in 2018. Evee is the co-founder of The Grief Reality, a wonderful blog where you can read many more lived experiences of grief and even contribute your own story.

We spoke to Shuma from Spoken Grief about her experiences of grief and loss during the month of Ramadan – from the difficulties of fasting when going in and out of hospital, to feeling like she can’t enjoy the month in the same way and missing her mum’s cooking.

Life After, a podcast by Theo Silberston, is a platform where young people can share and discuss their experiences with grief. Theo kicks off the second series by asking our founder, Anna, about the loss of her brother and father, and how it is to run The Student Grief Network.

Andrew’s dad died in 2012. Here he reflects on how his grief has impacted him over the years, from the initial aftermath, feeling like the elephant in the room and focusing all his energy on his A Levels, to getting into medical school and having to support dying patients and their families.