"When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving much advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a gentle and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief or bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares."
                                                                            Henri Nouwen from "Out of Solitude"

It is our hope that you will find the information listed here useful during your time of bereavement. It includes information about on-going workshops and programs that are available to you on campus as well as off-campus resources and additional websites that you might find helpful.

We encourage you to take advantage of the resources described within and connect with other members of the Hampshire community who are experiencing grief at this time.

Remembering Those We Have Lost, November 1, Day of the Dead, Sundown, Spiritual Life Center donut 5

Death Ritual: A Ritual of Transformation for anyone suffering the loss of a person, relationship, way of being, time of life, dream, pet, April 1, Sundown at the Fire Pit between Enfield and the Red Barn.

For Support, Sharing, Silence, Contemplation, Reflection, and Resources On-Campus:
The Spiritual Life Staff are available to students, staff, faculty, alumni of every background. Spiritual, religious, atheist, agnostic, non-religious--however you define yourself, we are here for you. Grief often raises questions about values and meanings and people look for ways to express themselves and move through experiences of loss. Please call on us for these confidential conversations and resources if you have lost a loved one, or have a friend who has.

Liza M. Neal, director of Spiritual Life, lmnSA@hampshire.edu, Steve Nathan, Campus Rabbi, spnSA@hampshire.edu, Anraku Hondorp, Contemplative Life advisor, hondorp@comcast.net, Syma Sheikh, International Community spiritual advisor, ssSLC@hampshire.edu can all be reached by calling 413.559.5282 or emailing or stopping by the Spiritual Life Office.

The Spiritual Life Office is on the 2nd Floor of Merrill House Student Services. For a place to get away, the Spiritual Life Center in donut 5 provides quiet, comfort, couches, tea, and time.

The Counselor Advocates are a group of student volunteers who offer confidential peer support and advocacy to students 24/7 through a hotline. You can reach a CA by calling the confidential CA answering service, x6998, and asking to have a CA paged. The CAs go through an intensive 80-hour training on peer counseling skills through the Community Health Collaborative. You can call and talk to a CA privately about anything that’s on your mind, whether it’s an assault, academic problems, loneliness, relationship issues, etc.

The Community Health Collaborative is on the 2nd floor of Enfield House above the Feminisms Center.

For Therapy and Groups On-Campus:
Health Services is an accredited health center providing for the medical and mental health needs of students. Our staff consists of a team of medical and mental health professionals who have a commitment to the health and well-being of Hampshire College students. All visits and inquiries are confidential. Sometimes the death of a loved person increases our vulnerability to the point that our emotional, social, and spiritual resources are depleted and our capacity to sustain ourselves is diminished. The process of bereavement can be favorably influenced by the support of friends and family, and sometimes counseling. Medical and counseling appointments can be made by calling 413.559.5458. For a Mental Health Emergency on evenings/weekends, call 413.559.1911 and ask for the house director on call.

Health Services is located near admissions and the Red Barn. There are two paths that lead to Health Services. One starts behind Enfield, and the other starts by the four-way stop sign on the main on-campus road.

Resources Off-Campus (pdf)

Grief webpage:
http://rivendell.org/

Survivors of suicide:
http://thewebpager.com/sos/

Grief Resources Bibliography (pdf)