When you think about mental health, what comes to mind? Stress? Anxiety? Depression? Burnout?

We often forget another silent factor that can affect our emotional wellbeing just as deeply: unresolved grief.

On this World Mental Health Day, I want to open up a conversation that’s very close to my heart. Because behind so many struggles with mental health, there is often a story of loss, sometimes spoken, often hidden.

And if we don’t identify and face unresolved grief, it doesn’t just go away with time. It waits quietly, showing up in our relationships, our work, our energy, and even our health.

My Why: A Personal Journey Through Loss

I know this not only through my work but through my own story.

I lost my youngest sister to suicide. She was a beautiful young almost 21 year woman full of promise, creativity, and kindness, but her pain after the sudden loss of our brother, became too heavy to carry. We were never taught anything about handling grief or mental illness.

On the surface she seemed to be doing the best out of all of us after the sudden death of our brother but her unresolved grief took its toll and she had a mental breakdown

That loss tore a hole in my heart, one that I had to learn to live with.

In the early days, I tried to carry on as if I was “strong”. I buried myself in work, busyness, and taking care of everyone else. But inside, the grief was still there... heavy, silent, unspoken.

That’s the thing about unresolved grief. You can push it down, but it has a way of resurfacing. For me, it came out in exhaustion, moments of overwhelm, and difficulty finding joy in things I used to love. I started to think that this was the new normal and I would have to carry the pain forever.

What I’ve learned is this: grief and mental health are deeply connected. If we don’t give ourselves the space, support, and tools to process grief, it can quietly chip away at our resilience.

The Hidden Link Between Grief and Mental Health

Mental health challenges rarely appear from nowhere. They’re often shaped by experiences we’ve lived through – losses, disappointments, changes, or traumas we haven’t fully healed.

Here’s how unresolved grief can affect our mental health:

• Emotional exhaustion – The constant effort of “holding it together” leaves us drained.

• Depression and sadness – Grief can mimic depression, making it hard to distinguish between the two.

• Anxiety – Fear of more loss or change often grows when grief isn’t addressed.

• Isolation – Many people feel misunderstood or withdraw because they don’t want to “burden” others.

• Burnout – Especially for caring professionals and entrepreneurs, unresolved grief can make everyday challenges feel impossible.

And when it’s suicide-related grief, the impact can be even more complex, mixed with guilt, unanswered questions, and “what ifs” that feel endless.

Why We Don’t Talk About It

Part of the problem is that we live in a culture that often avoids grief. We’re told to “move on”, “stay strong”, or “get over it”. But grief doesn’t work like that.

When people don’t feel safe to talk about their losses, grief goes underground. And hidden grief has a way of surfacing as stress, depression, or other mental health struggles.

On World Mental Health Day, we’re reminded of the importance of speaking up. But what if we also listened more deeply, not just to those struggling with diagnosed mental health conditions, but also to those silently carrying grief?

Grief and Suicide: Breaking the Silence

Suicide is one of the hardest losses to live with. It leaves loved ones with questions they may never get answers to.

• Could I have done more?

• Why didn’t they reach out?

• Why didn’t I see the signs?

I know those questions too well. And I want to say gently to anyone reading this who has lost someone to suicide: your love was not wasted. Their pain was not your fault.

We need to break the silence around both suicide and grief. Because silence isolates us. And isolation deepens pain.

When we talk about suicide openly and with compassion, we can help prevent others from reaching that breaking point. When we give space for grief to be expressed, we create room for healing.

Building Resilience: A Path Forward

So, how do we build resilience in the face of loss? How do we care for our mental health when grief feels overwhelming?

Here are a few steps I often share with my clients:

1. Acknowledge the loss – Naming what we’ve lost is the first step towards healing.

2. Allow yourself to feel – Grief comes in waves: sadness, anger, numbness, even relief. All feelings are valid.

3. Seek connection – Healing doesn’t happen in isolation. Find someone safe to talk to.

4. Practise self-care – Small, daily actions to rest, nourish, and recharge make a real difference.

5. Get the right support – Whether through grief recovery programmes, coaching, or support groups, structured guidance helps you move forward.

Resilience isn’t about being “tough” or “moving on”. It’s about finding ways to live again, even with loss in your story.

A Gentle Invitation

On this World Mental Health Day, I want to leave you with a question:

👉 Is there grief in your life that you haven’t given yourself permission to face?

If so, you’re not alone. And it doesn’t mean you’re weak. It simply means you’re human.

Unresolved grief is more common than most of us realise and healing it can transform not only your mental health but also your ability to thrive in your personal and professional life.

I’ve created a free resource called The Hidden Wellbeing Gaps Assessment, a short article and quiz to help you identify where grief or emotional strain might be affecting your life more than you think. It’s a gentle starting point for reflection and awareness.

Final Thoughts

Mental health matters every day, not just on World Mental Health Day. And grief is part of that conversation.

If we want to build a healthier, more compassionate world, we need to start talking about the hidden link between grief and mental health.

Because behind every statistic is a story. Behind every struggle is a person. And behind every loss, there is love.

If this post speaks to you, I invite you to:

• Reflect on your own story.

• Share this with someone who might need it today.

• Connect with me if you’d like support in navigating grief.

• Take my free Hidden Wellbeing Gaps Assessment and discover where you may need extra care and resilience.

You don’t have to carry grief alone. Healing is possible. And you deserve it.