Speaking Grief

"Speaking Grief" explores why the pain of losing a loved one can be so difficult to understand and discuss.

The film interviews grieving families from across the U.S., whose losses range from stillbirth to suicide, to address common misconceptions about grief. Through candid personal stories and conversations with experts in the grief field, the film also presents ideas for how family and friends can better support each other through loss.

Carmichael Khan, who is featured in the documentary, said the sudden loss of his wife forced him into an unexpected role: father and mother to his daughter, Asia, who was 14 years old at the time of her mother’s death. “I wanted Asia’s life to be stable, to not have to deal with a post-trauma event,” said Khan, who is from Houston. “Recovery is a journey. You are the walking wounded, but there is always hope. I believe I would not be where I am if it were not for the people who assisted me through it.”

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Max Jensen-Kane; Max’s dad, Daniel, died in 2015.

Courtesy of Christel Cornilsen

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Juliana Quintanilla; Juliana’s dad, Rolando, died in 2015.

Courtesy of Lindsey Whissel Fenton

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Ella Jensen-Kane; Ella suffered the loss of one of her dads as well as her sister.

Courtesy of Lindsey Whissel Fenton

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Christel Cornilsen filming Ella and Jack Jensen-Kane.

Courtesy of Lindsey Whissel Fenton

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Steve Bolich; Steve’s son, Nathan, died in 2017.

Courtesy of Lindsey Whissel Fenton

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Mason Snyder; Masons sister, Nova, was stillborn in 2015.

Courtesy of Lindsey Whissel Fenton

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Asia Khan with dog by the ocean; Asia’s mom, Rose, died in 2006.

Courtesy of Lindsey Whissel Fenton

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Beatriz McKee; Beatriz looks on at the 2019 TAPS National Military Suicide Survivor Seminar in Phoenix, Ariz; her brother, Oscar; died by suicide in 2017.

Courtesy of Lindsey Whissel Fenton

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Noah’s dad, Leroy, died in 2015.

Courtesy of Christel Cornilsen

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Darin Jensen’s husband, Daniel, died in 2015.

Courtesy of Christel Cornilsen

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Zee Wolters; Exercise has helped Zee grieve for her mom, who died in 2014 after a seven-year battle with breast cancer.

Courtesy of Christel Cornilsen

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Tom McKee’s brother-in-law, Oscar, died in 2017.

Courtesy of Christel Cornilsen

The film is available to stream on demand.

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Credits:

A Public Media and Awareness Initiative. Presented by WPSU. Distributed by American Public Television. The documentary is part of a multi-platform project aimed at elevating a national conversation around grief by creating the space for the journey to recovery. The Speaking Grief Project has been made possible with philanthropic support from the New York Life Foundation.