University of Bristol Combines Arts and Medicine to Tackle Grief and Mental Health

The University of Bristol, UK, is taking a revolutionary step to redefine grief understanding and support in higher education. Academics have pointed to the fact that everyone grieves at some time, yet there are many terms around death and dying that are difficult to speak about. Hence, the Good Grief Festival has been developed to bring all this into a conversation and into a more grief-literate society. Headed by Professor Lucy Selman from the Bristol Medical School and Dr Lesel Dawson from the Department of English, the Festival blends expertise from healthcare and the arts. Their reported aim is to provide bereaved individuals and the general public with support, information and community. This interdisciplinary approach reflects an increasingly accepted perspective on the role medical schools can play in the education of empathetic techniques and grief literacy, but also how university community engagement can go beyond traditional boundaries of academia.

Since launching as a social venture spin-out from the University of Bristol, Good Grief has drawn over 350 in-person and online events, attracting more than 35,000 participants. Many of these events remain available free of charge via The Grief Channel to ensure that support reaches as wide an audience as possible. This digital availability is particularly relevant among many UK universities that find student wellbeing and mental health embrace increasingly broad provisions that supplement rather than supplant existing resources.

The foundation of the Festival is located in the Bristol Centre for Grief Research & Engagement, supported by the Grief Academy, which organises curricula directed at bereaved laypeople and professionals. These types of programmes will contribute to the growing understanding of what grief literacy in higher education entails, that is, the ability to recognise, respond to, and support grief experiences in academic and social venues.

Arts and Culture Lead for the Festival, Dr Lesel Dawson, has been instrumental in shaping the interdisciplinary ethos of the Festival. The initiative shows how a university can develop compassionate communities for all students and staff by connecting literature, culture and health. This is especially important in the context of student mental health support, where emotional literacy and inclusive dialogue are of growing importance.

In addition, implementation associated with national frameworks such as those from the Office for Students on sustainability and wellbeing guidance and DEFRA's Roadmap for the Reduction of Food Waste will encourage institutions further to embed care and community into their operational and academic strategies. Furthermore, UKRI-funded research into sustainable and inclusive health systems reinforces the leadership in community initiatives made by medical schools in this area by the University of Bristol.

Cross-disciplinary collaboration has also levelled the space over which Good Grief operates. It was reported that Bristol Medical School and the Department of English have student volunteers, researchers and external partners who work together closely. Such a collaborative model strengthens empathy in medical education and also advances university community engagement across disciplines. More than imparting facts and figures, the Festival provides a sense of belonging, it is said. One student volunteer also apparently said that it was not only about keeping people from being alone, but also about making sure that they all felt supported. It was said to be small in scale but potent in its ability to generate great change.

Direction, apparently, is future exploration by the university. More grief support hubs, new courses through the Grief Academy, and partnerships with other UK universities and charities are part of these plans. This may constitute a scalable model for institutions asking how universities can build compassionate communities. The University of Bristol initiative in grief literacy stands as a sector-leading example of how universities in the UK can creatively, caringly, and with academic rigour address a complex emotional need. It answers the question of which UK universities focus on mental health and grief awareness, not only with evidence, but with empathy.

Editor’s Note:

The Good Grief movement, initiated by the University of Bristol, transforms the discussion of grief and emotional well-being in higher education. In a sector of reactive and patchy mental health support, this initiative shows proactive, multidisciplinary provision, entraining medical insight and cultural understanding. It illustrates that grief literacy is not niche; it is a core element of compassionate learning, championed by scholars Professor Lucy Selman and Dr Lesel Dawson. Grief awareness is being tied into academic and community domains, thus helping to destigmatise discourses of loss and emotional resilience. The fact that Good Grief is such a far-reaching initiative with such broad access makes it quite special. More than 35,000 people participated, and hundreds of events are freely accessible online, making it much more than just a campus phenomenon. The Grief Channel and Grief Academy are free, organised, accessible resources providing support for bereaved individuals, professionals, and students. This is not just a festival but an ongoing, public engagement platform underpinned by research. In doing so, it helps to position Bristol as a leading university in the UK in mental health and grief awareness. Moreover, it reflects the university's commitment to inclusive wellbeing, aligned with national mechanisms such as guidance from the Office for Students and UKRI-funded research in sustainable health systems.

As per Skoobuzz, the Good Grief initiative is not just an answer to societal needs, but rather it offers a model for how compassionate communities could be built at universities.

FAQs

1. What is grief literacy in higher education, and why does it matter?

Grief literacy in higher education refers to the ability of students, staff, and institutions to understand, communicate, and support experiences of grief. It matters because bereavement affects academic performance, mental health, and social well-being. By embedding grief awareness into teaching, support services, and public engagement, universities can foster more compassionate and resilient communities.

2. How is the University of Bristol promoting grief literacy and emotional well-being?

The University of Bristol, UK, promotes grief literacy through the Good Grief Festival, a social venture led by Professor Lucy Selman and Dr Lesel Dawson. The initiative combines medical expertise and cultural insight to offer courses, events, and digital resources that support bereaved individuals and raise public awareness. It is underpinned by the Bristol Centre for Grief Research & Engagement and the Grief Academy.

3. What is the Good Grief Festival, and who is it for?

The Good Grief Festival is a public-facing programme designed to open up conversations about death, dying, and bereavement. It has welcomed over 35,000 participants to more than 350 events, both online and in person. The Festival is for bereaved individuals, professionals, students, and anyone seeking to better understand grief. Many sessions are available free on The Grief Channel.

4. What role do medical schools play in teaching empathy and grief literacy?

Medical schools, such as Bristol Medical School, play a critical role in teaching empathy and grief literacy by integrating emotional awareness into clinical education. Through initiatives like Good Grief, students learn to approach end-of-life care and bereavement with sensitivity, improving patient outcomes and professional wellbeing.

5. How does the University of Bristol integrate grief awareness into its curriculum?

Courses in sustainable health, palliative care, literature, and ethics include live case studies and interdisciplinary content from the Good Grief Festival and Future Farm. This ensures that grief literacy is not treated as an isolated topic but embedded across academic disciplines, supporting both student learning and emotional development.

6. How is the initiative supporting student mental health and wellbeing?

The initiative complements existing student mental health support by offering inclusive, accessible resources that address grief directly. The Grief Academy provides structured courses, while the Festival creates space for shared experience and community engagement. This holistic approach aligns with sector-wide wellbeing strategies.

7. What makes the University of Bristol’s approach unique among UK universities?

Bristol’s approach stands out for its interdisciplinary leadership, combining arts and medical sciences to address grief. It also offers a scalable model through digital platforms, cross-departmental collaboration, and policy alignment. Institutions such as the University of Leeds and the University of Edinburgh are also active in this space, but Bristol’s integration of research, teaching, and public engagement is particularly comprehensive.

8. How can universities build compassionate communities for students and staff?

Universities can build compassionate communities by embedding emotional literacy into curricula, supporting peer-led initiatives, and offering inclusive public engagement programmes. The University of Bristol’s Good Grief model demonstrates how grief awareness can be normalised and supported across campus life.

9. What national frameworks support grief literacy and wellbeing in universities?

The initiative aligns with national guidance such as the Office for Students’ mental health and wellbeing strategy, Universities UK’s Stepchange framework, and DEFRA’s policy roadmap for public health and sustainability. It is also supported by UKRI-funded research into inclusive health systems.

10. What are the plans for the Good Grief initiative?

Plans include expanding the Grief Academy, developing new partnerships with UK universities and charities, and increasing the reach of digital resources. These steps aim to offer a replicable framework for other institutions seeking to embed grief literacy and emotional well-being into their strategic priorities.