By MAI OMOTO, Kizuna NCI intern
Starting July 19, Little Tokyo Service Center (LTSC) will facilitate the second series of their online Grief Support Group. The group will meet at 2 pm over Zoom every two weeks until September 27, offering a total of six free sessions. Each session will be 1.5 hours long, providing a space for individuals to share their feelings and experiences with grief and loss.
The American Psychological Association defines grief as a feeling of anguish that often follows the loss of a loved one. This loss has been found to be one of the most stressful events in a human’s life. There are typically five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. While these stages do not occur the same way or in the same order for everyone, they provide a general framework for how one’s general mental framework may change over time. Grief can cause changes in many aspects of daily functioning, such as appetite, sleep, mood, energy levels, and health problems.
To prevent unhealthy consequences of grief from causing detriment to one’s mental or physical well-being, it is important to seek support. One avenue for doing so is to attend support groups.
While the informal support of friends and family is also important, individuals may experience a sense of guilt for burdening those close to them with their own grief. Bereavement groups provide a space dedicated to sharing one’s experiences without these worries and allow individuals to find emotional connection with those who have similar experiences. These individuals can share their own stories while also hearing the stories of others, providing a sense of community in an experience that may be very isolating. The groups can also be educational, teaching concepts such as coping mechanisms and ways to understand one’s grieving experience.
Participants in LTSC’s first series of the Grief Support Group have shared that the group allowed them to not only share their own experiences but also help others in the group. They were able to listen to and comfort others, which provided them with feelings of empowerment and a sense of purpose.
“Your presence in the support group would not only facilitate your grief journey but also assist others in healing from the pain of grief, creating an empowering circle of community,” said facilitator Kento Sakamoto. “I find it beautiful how your courage to join the group can help others, too.”
Registration for LTSC’s upcoming Grief Support Group will close after their first meeting on Friday, July 19. For more information or to register, please contact Ayumi Omoto.
Phone number: (213) 473-3035
Email: [email protected]
LTSC is also looking to start a Japanese-speaking Grief Support Group. A minimum of three participants is necessary to start this series. If interested, please contact Ayumi Omoto.
For more information or resources, please visit LTSC’s website: www.LTSC.org.
This publication was supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library.