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Grief and loss are two unfortunate inevitabilities of life. In an organization of thousands of employees, it is easy to think no one will understand our feelings and experiences, often leading to further isolation. The truth is, many of us are walking the same path and want nothing more than to connect.

While rounding during the holiday season, Workforce Chaplain Tuba Alpat saw this need firsthand and decided to put together a support group for employees experiencing grief and loss. In just one week, all available spots were filled. The people who signed up were dealing with situations ranging from divorce, to the loss of a child, to the death of a parent, but they were unified in their need for a safe space to process and speak without judgement.

A Path to Healing

Tabatha Gabriel, a Medical Staff Coordinator, had lost her mother 18 years before but realized after all this time, she needed to grieve the things she was not able to experience with her and the milestones they would not share together. “When someone leaves a mark on your life like that, how could they be replaced? How could you find a band aid for that?” she said. The grief support group helped her talk about her experience freely and to realize that grief is not just death, grief is losing, period. Tabatha says the group created a pathway for people to be comfortable with themselves and “speak to the questionable areas of their lives they thought were healed.” More than anything, she was grateful to know she was not alone.

Having lost her father over the Christmas holiday, Ambulatory Staff Nurse, Laura Johnson’s wounds were far from healed. However, she described a similar sense of surprising camaraderie. “Listening to people who were basically going through the exact same thing was comforting and helped me realize even though we are all super different, we are all the same when it comes to certain things in our lives,” Laura explained. The grief support group was there to help her work through the sadness, anger and feelings of abandonment, showing her there is no shame in how you feel about anything. She described how the group helped her not to bottle her emotions. When something triggers a wave of sadness, she lets it come and then lets it pass.

Texas Children’s wants to help you nurture your mental health

Sensitive subjects like grief and loss can be difficult to talk about, but they don’t need to be. “We know everyone grieves differently and that grief is a natural way of living your emotions. However, sometimes grief can feel too heavy and make you feel stuck,” explained Tuba. The grief support group filled a need for these team members, and it is just one of many resources available if you or someone you know is struggling. Call EAP or reach out to a Workforce Spiritual Chaplain at 832-824-3327 if you need support. You can also call EAP Plus for assistance, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 833-327-7587. For Baylor employees, call 800-622-7276. Please find additional resources on the Spiritual Well-Being SharePoint page.

Additionally, May is Mental Health Awareness Month and the Workforce Well-Being team has many resources, events and activities available to nurture your mental well-being. Click here for the full schedule and list of resources.

“Take yourself seriously, take your mental health seriously,” advises Laura. “Listen to that inner voice and take the time. You are not alone.”