EMU Today

YPSILANTI — The December episode of “Enlighten U,” Eastern Michigan University’s award-winning mental health podcast for students, delves into the heavy topic of grief and loss. Record-holding EMU student-athlete Kyra Buffen is featured in the episode as she shares her journey with grief, which began with the loss of her mother during her freshman year of high school.

According to data from the National Alliance for Children’s Grief, about 6 million children in the U.S. will have dealt with the death of a parent or other close family member by 18 years old. Additional data from Eastern Washington University estimates that about 60% of college students will have experienced loss by the time they graduate.

With the holidays fast approaching, this month’s episode takes a special look at how grief and loss can affect students all year, specifically during the holiday season. 

Buffen, a graduate student and 2024 MAC champion for both indoors and outdoors triple jump, said losing her mother at a young age affected her then – and continues to affect her now.

“Being so young, I don’t think I realized the impact then,” Buffen said. “I didn’t realize how bad it was until time started going by.”

Buffen also discusses another personal experience she had with a friend who died by suicide. She encourages listeners to check up on their friends, especially the ones who seem strongest.

“Definitely check on your strong friends,” Buffen said. “The friends that you think are strong – definitely check on those people.”

Resident mental health expert and assistant professor in EMU’s Department of Leadership and Counseling, Aesha Mustafa, Ph.D., contributes to the discussion by explaining the stages of grief, how grief exhaustion might look, how to support someone grieving, and strategies for healing. Mustafa emphasizes the idea that grief is different for everyone, and there are no right or wrong ways to grieve.

“However you’re processing is okay,” Mustafa said. “There are no right ways to do it.”

Mustafa urges those dealing with loss to be compassionate towards themselves in their grief journey and provides tips for helping keep alive the memory of those lost.

Future episodes of “Enlighten U” will address loneliness, adjustment to campus life, body insecurities, and more.

For more information, please contact Lolita Cummings at lcummin2@emich.edu or Melissa Thrasher at mthrashe@emich.edu. To submit a topic idea or to be a guest, please contact the show directly at Enlighten_U@emich.edu. 

About “Enlighten U”
“Enlighten U” is an Eastern Michigan University-produced, award-winning podcast for college students as they experience unique stressors, including academic pressures, personal growth, social challenges, and more. EMU executive director of media relations and social media Melissa Thrasher and EMU public relations professor Lolita Cummings serve as co-hosts. Each episode is released each month and welcomes a student or alum and a subject-matter professional. Episodes of “Enlighten U” address mental health topics like imposter syndrome, financial strain, grading anxiety, adjustment to campus life, social media harms, social justice, and more.

About Eastern Michigan University
Founded in 1849, EMU is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves nearly 13,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; and its graduate school. National publications regularly recognize EMU for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. Visit the University’s rankings and points of pride websites to learn more. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website. To stay up to date on University news, activities and announcements, visit EMU Today.