Don Lewis, coordinator for the UC Davis Hospice Bereavement Program, and Hannah Hunter, art therapist for the Child Life Program at UC Davis Children’s Hospital, co-facilitate young adult grief support groups, which are available to 17-24 year olds throughout the community who have suffered the loss of a loved one.
Posted May 4, 2011
A new Grief Support Group for Young Adults is offered twice each year by UC Davis Hospice and the UC Davis Children’s Hospital Bereavement Program.
The groups are for young adults in the community who are between the ages of 17 and 24 and coping with a recent death. The sessions are held on eight consecutive weekly evenings from 6 until 7:30 p.m. at the UC Davis Home Care Services Building at 3630 Business Drive in Sacramento. There is no cost for the group sessions, which begin each spring and fall.
Topics to be covered are:
- Acknowledging and understanding grief
- Expressing and accepting feelings
- Changing of roles
- Coping and stress
- Developing supportive relationships
Although grief support groups exist for children and adults, there is a pressing need for grief support for young adults.
“This age group is particularly vulnerable to feelings of isolation following the death of a loved one or close friend because they likely have very little experience with loss,” said Don Lewis, coordinator of the UC Davis Hospice Bereavement Program. “Being in the same room with people who understand is crucial to dealing with those feelings.”
Those interested in participating should contact Lewis at 916-734-1139 for a brief intake interview and to add their names to the list for the next session.
Grief Support for Young Adults is supported by the UC Davis Hospice Program and a grant from Children's Miracle Network.