Grief Awareness and Depression Screening

Lifestyle Medicine | Prevention

Image depicts a chalkboard-like background with a profile of human head. A color-coded dial with accompanying "stickies" describing each section of the brain: Green is "relaxed, no stress, joy;" yellow is "I feel ok...;" pale orange is "feeling down;" and pinkish-red is "stressed, grief, sad, and anger." Grief awareness and depression screening Private Physicians Medical Associates PPMAGrief Awareness and Depression Screening — National Grief Awareness Day is acknowledged to raise awareness of the different ways that people cope with loss and bereavement. The purpose of this day is to offer resources and support to those who are going through personal losses and to remind us to be compassionate and understanding to people we know who are grieving.

Grief is a complex and personal process that depends on many factors, including the cause and nature of the loss, the individual’s personality and coping skills, the social and cultural context, and the availability of support.

Some of the reasons why people grieve differently are:

Image of senior woman with white hair and hands covering her face being comforted by a younger dark-haired woman. Grief and depression. Private Physicians Medical Associates PPMA
Cause of the loss

Losing someone to natural causes may elicit different emotions than losing someone to a violent or sudden death.

Nature of the loss

The loss of a spouse may have different implications than losing a friend or a coworker.

Personality and coping skills

Some people may be more resilient and maintain optimism, while others may be more fragile, vulnerable, and pessimistic.

Image shows a person with dark hair, wearing a blue hoodie with their hands over their face, a sad or crying person. PPMA. Private Physicians Medical AssociatesSocial and cultural context

While some cultures may have rituals and traditions that help people cope with loss, others may discourage or stigmatize grief. This can include religious and family rituals and traditions.

Accessible support

Supportive friends, family members, or professionals in one’s life can help them feel less isolated and more understood.

Image of a middle-aged couple, the man trying to comfort the woman, who is crying, with her hand over her face. Grief, depression. PPMA. Private Physicians Medical AssociatesGrief can be an unpredictable process, varying in intensity, duration, and frequency from person to person. There is no right or wrong way to grieve, as long as it does not interfere with one’s health and well-being. Sometimes, however, grief does interfere with one’s life and make it difficult to carry on as usual. If grief lasts longer than anticipated, hindering your daily life, or causes distressed thoughts, it’s time to speak with your healthcare professional.

Depression screening can help diagnose depression, understand how severe it is, and figure out what type of depression you have, which can lead to recovery. PPMA offers depression screening to our patients. Call (949) 566-8179 to schedule your depression screening.

Learn more about depression from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIH)

Enjoy patient-centered healthcare with PPMA.

Become a PPMA Patient Today!

Call us (949) 566-8179 OR
Contact Us