Grief management and mental health awareness

Experts and specialists are highlighting the complexities of grief and its potential to evolve into serious mental health issues. Psychologist and thanatologist Jonathan García Mezhua warns that if intense emotions persist and intensify rather than diminish, grief can lead to depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. He specifically noted the existence of prolonged grief disorder, which is characterized by intense suffering following the loss of a loved one. For adults, a diagnosis may be considered after one year has passed, while for children, the threshold is six months, though symptoms and daily impact are the primary evaluators.

In response to these challenges, grief coach José Tomás Vicuña, author of ‘Sobrevivir el duelo’, is conducting a free workshop organized with Grupo Nuestros Parques. The session aims to provide practical tools and reflections to help individuals navigate the emotions of loss, such as sadness, anger, and guilt, at their own pace. The workshop is part of the ‘Encuentro en tu Parque’ initiative and focuses on integrating loss and finding new meaning in life.