Everyone in Maine can likely recall not only the devastation of the shootings in Lewiston, but also the unhesitating support and unity in its aftermath. One year has passed, but the losses remain raw for many and the need for support continues.

November is National Children’s Grief Awareness Month — a particularly apt time to recall the comfort of connection that helped us through that heartbreaking period.

Grief isn’t a journey to be navigated alone, yet many individuals often struggle in silence. The outpouring of support and care immediately following a loss fades and lives are often expected to go back to “normal.” In reality, grief takes time, and never fully heals.

For children, grief can be particularly isolating. They may not fully understand what they are feeling and lack the language to express it. Unresolved grief can manifest in an array of short and long-term challenges. Children — and the adults around them — need safe spaces where they can talk, ask, and feel reassured.

This November, let’s recommit to reaching our hearts out to neighbors — seeking compassionate connection — so that nobody grieves alone. Together, we can make a difference: raising awareness, breaking the stigma around seeking help, and fostering environments of support; for as long as they’re needed.

Gretchen Johnson, executive director

Center for Grieving Children, Portland