The Issue: Complicated Grief in Teens
Approximately 15 percent of the bereaved population suffers from a condition known as complicated grief, according to an article from the New York Times. Its symptoms include sadness, intrusive thoughts about death, and either a preoccupation with or avoidance of the loss, lasting for at least six months following a death. Teenagers who suffer from complicated grief may not understand their symptoms or have any recourse to deal with them, prolonging their effects.
The Campaign: Funding Grief Group to Help Teens Express Loss
If this Grassroots campaign raises $420, then The Christi Center can fund a journal and 10 weeks of grief-group sessions for six teens. Every additional $140 raised will fund participation for another two grieving teens. The grief group meets at a local school for an hour each week for 10 weeks, and allows teens to gather and talk about the death of someone they love. Under the guidance of masters-level social workers or supervised masters students, the teens discuss their experiences with a network of peers and write in journals to express their feelings of loss.
Anonymous donor will match donations up to $1,000.
You can follow the progress of this and other Grassroots campaigns at the Groupon Grassroots website.
The Christi Center
Susan and Don Cox founded The Christi Center in 1987 in memory of their daughter, who had recently died. Through their organization, they aim to help people adjust to life after the death of loved ones with a variety of support groups and community partnerships. The Christi Center runs 21 monthly groups to help people deal with the loss of children, spouses, and family members. Special bimonthly groups cater to children and teens, and school-based groups gather at local high schools for youth to participate in 10-week grief groups with their peers. In addition to providing grief support, The Christi Center also operates substance-abuse-recovery services for patients in conjunction with Austin Recovery.