Hacienda La Puente Unified's Wellness Wednesdays: Navigating Grief and Loss

Hacienda La Puente Unified is committed to providing robust resources and services that support all students and foster healthy and happy school communities where our students, staff, and families feel supported, respected, and valued.

This month, we will discuss grief and loss and the resources that HLPUSD provides.

When navigating grief and loss, it is imperative to form a support system, which can include family, friends, a mentor, a counselor, or a support group. The Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health encourages people to find ways to manage intense emotions; recommendations include meditating, expressing your thoughts using writing prompts that help you tap into your feelings, or moving your body by walking, dancing, or doing yoga. The following include additional recommendations by the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health.

Recommended ways to cope with loss include:

• Self-care, a fundamental aspect of coping with loss, should be a top priority. 
• Maintaining your usual daily routine as much as possible is also beneficial.
• Be patient with yourself. Grieving is a marathon, not a sprint, and it is hard work. Try to resist "returning to normal" immediately and give yourself time to process and accept the loss.
• Reach out for support from family, friends, doctors, support groups, and mental health professionals.

Recommended ways to help children cope with loss include:

• Be honest and age-appropriate: Remain calm and comforting. Answer their questions using explanations appropriate for the child's age.
• Encourage questions: Share information appropriate for their age.
• One of the best ways to help children cope with loss is to maintain their normal routines. Keeping to regular schedules for meals, bedtime, and school time can provide them with a sense of stability and security during a difficult time.
• Be sensitive to any worries or fears: Watch for signs of distress such as sleeplessness, lack of appetite, disinterest in play, withdrawal, or acting out. Invite your child to talk and reassure them with love and comfort.

Please visit HelpGuide.org for additional resources on coping with grief and loss.

Some ways you may be struggling with grief and loss without fully knowing can include:

• Too much or too little sleep
• Overeating or no appetite
• Feeling irritated, lonely, anxious, or depressed
• Having thoughts of death or dying
• Difficulty concentrating
• Loss of interest in things that generally interest you

For students, resources on grief and loss are available through your school counselor, campus wellness center, and our Equity and Access, Family Engagement community resource guide. For additional 24/7 resources such as Care Solace, which connects students and families with mental health resources and Care Coordination professionals, please visit our District’s Wellness Resources webpage.

Emergency community support is available for people of all ages, including:

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: call/text 988
• Crisis text line: text "HELP" to 741741
• The Trevor Project Lifeline: call 1-866-488-7386
• LA County Department of Mental Health Services: call 1-800-854-7771

For more resources, please call the Equity and Access department at (626) 933-5302.

“As part of Hacienda La Puente Unified’s Wellness Wednesday Initiative, we want to ensure our students, staff, and families have access to and are aware of the many resources and support services that are available for anyone struggling with their mental health in general, or anyone coping with the different forms of loss and grief,” Superintendent Dr. Alfonso Jiménez said. "When you are part of a community, you are never alone, and promoting the lifelong health and wellness of the HLPUSD community is one of our main goals.”