When to Contact Us:

  • When a loved one is dying.
  • After a loved one has died.
  • When information is needed on the grief process (what to expect during grief, how to help a grieving person, self-care while grieving, etc.).
  • When a grieving person exhibits “red flag” behavior (see list below).
  • When a grieving adult, child or family needs additional support and guidance.
  • When schools. community organizations or business need assistance in providing grief education, crisis intervention and/or support services.
  • When other community referrals are needed.

The following “red flags” indicate that the grieving individual needs professional intervention.

Children and Adolescents

  • chronic or severe somatic symptoms (headaches, stomach aches, etc.)
  • pronounced self-blame
  • chronic school problems
  • nightmares/sleep disturbances
  • extreme regression (return to bedwetting, clinging, thumb-sucking, etc.)
  • poor self-care
  • excessive hopelessness
  • extreme anger/hostility/violence or other extreme acting out/defiance
  • social isolation/extreme withdrawal
  • sudden change in friends/peer group
  • intense separation anxieties or phobias
  • apparent absence of grief or unwillingness to discuss the loss
  • skipping school
  • intense involvement in dating relationship to the exclusion of other friends or activities
  • extreme negativity/gloom
  • intense attraction to the topic of death, or fixation on the subject of death
  • illegal activity/violating the rights of others
  • substance abuse
  • suicidal thoughts or plans

Adults

  • persistent somatic complaints, physical problems, or chronic illnessacute anxiety or panic attacks
  • acute anxiety or panic attacks
  • excessive hostility and anger
  • inability to work
  • poor self-care or inability to meet daily needs of self, dependents
  • social isolation
  • increased or new alcohol/drug/nicotine use
  • sleep disturbances
  • eating disturbances, appetite changes, or major weight loss or gain
  • lasting or agitated depression
  • excessive and unrealistic guilt
  • suicidal thoughts or plans