Don’t belittle the grieving process

Re: “Trump and College Chaos” by columnist Walter E. Williams.

I beg to differ with Mr. Williams. Most mental health professionals recognize after a loss of any significance, individuals need to grieve.

Generally, this work takes place over time and proceeds through identifiable stages. Emotional well-being depends upon doing this work. To belittle efforts undertaken by institutions of higher education to offer opportunities for grief work following Mr. Trump's election is to deny the importance of addressing student wellness.

Incidences ranging from campus shootings to the tragic loss of one student in a car accident are typically met by administrators offering counseling to student and faculty groups. If the day after the election Mr. Williams had visited community institutions, from beauty and barber shops, to bridge clubs, coffee klatches, church fellowship halls, or Bible study groups, he would have seen adults struggling together with the difficult task of grieving, and even heard some primal screaming.

Kudos to institutions of higher learning who recognize the importance of helping young people address their grief.

This story was originally published December 17, 2016 at 7:54 AM with the headline "Don’t belittle the grieving process."