Kentucky ranks 6^th in the country in childhood bereavement (CBEM 2024).   Currently, one in nine Kentucky children have lost a parent or sibling by the age of 18 – and that number more than doubles by the age of 25.  To put that in perspective, in an average Kentucky 5^th grade classroom of 27 kids, 3 have experienced the death loss of a critical family member.   If unsupported, this type of loss often leads to poor academic, social, and health outcomes (Fisner et al, 2021). In fact, it is the number one ACE (adverse childhood experience).

In the context of higher education, approximately a third of students have lost a close person in the previous 12 months and are struggling with intense feelings of sadness, isolation, and lack of motivation, leading to a downward spiral of academic struggle and mental health concerns.  The University of Kentucky does not track these statistics, but during the 2023-24 academic year, the Center for Support & Intervention had 289 students referred to them for the loss of a loved one.  Importantly, the research shows that college students prefer to turn to their peers in moments of crisis like this (Glickman, 2020), but unfortunately they find that their peers struggle to know what to say, often making things worse.   The University of Kentucky, like most colleges does not have any grief-specific resources beyond 1:1 individual counseling.  They do provide case management support on an individual base but otherwise refer students to resources out in the community, which does not enhance feelings of belonging.   

It is for this reason that a team of undergraduates in Dr. Breazeale’s Senior Capstone class during the Spring of 2023 decided that they wanted to address the problem of college student grief.  The group met with the Kentucky Center for Grieving Children and Families and decided that a peer-led grief support program would be a great start.  JJ Weaver decided to pilot the Peer Healing model through UK Athletics during the Fall of 2023.  This program uses an evidence-based curriculum and includes 8 weeks of socio-emotional content.  It is unique in that it brings together a trained mental health counselor with a peer facilitator to run the group.  This pilot was a huge success and was covered by national media (see this LINK to watch the 6-minute special aired by CBS Sports).  

In the Spring of 2024, Breazeale and her team (Stephanie Love of UK’s Center for Support & Intervention, Leila Salisbury & Emily Johnson of the Kentucky Center for Grieving Children & Families) were awarded a $50,000 UK Women in Philanthropy grant to expand the program to the rest of the student body.  The group, along with JJ Weaver and undergraduate intern Rose Barczak traveled to Denver in June of 2024 to present on the project, garnering a great deal of excitement and interest, including the support of Brian Griese, former NFL Bronco quarterback who started Judi’s House, the premier grief support organization in the country.  The support program will be rolled out campus-wide this academic year.