The holiday season is nearly upon us. This is the time of year when grieving people often feel dread and sorrow about the very events and traditions that formerly brought happiness. In this year of the COVID-19 pandemic, grieving during the holiday season may be more difficult than ever.

As every grieving person handles loss in their own way, each one of us observes holidays in our own way in time of bereavement. There simply is no one right way to experience the holidays. The video below starts with Ernest Begay, UNHS Traditional Counselor, talking about traditional teachings around the holiday and grief. Then members of the UNHS Behavioral Health Team provide you with 5 options for new traditions to find meaning instead of avoiding the holidays because they remind you of the loss. Please share this message with anyone who may be facing grief this holiday season.