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When the Caregivers Need Care Too

Mental Illness Awareness Week and the Funeral Profession

Jess Wakefield's avatar
By Jess Wakefield
October 06, 2025
 

In funeral service, we are known for being steady in the storm. Families see us as calm anchors, guiding them through the unimaginable. But what happens when the people who carry everyone else’s grief are also carrying anxiety, depression, PTSD, or other mental illnesses?

The truth is, mental illness doesn’t skip over funeral professionals. If anything, the demands of our work, long hours, exposure to trauma, isolation from peers, and constant emotional labor make us more vulnerable.

 

Silence in a Culture of Strength

In our profession, there is an unspoken rule: be strong for the family. Many of us extend that rule into our personal lives as well. We minimize our struggles, fearing stigma or judgment. We tell ourselves that burnout is “just part of the job” or that therapy is for someone else.

But mental illness is not weakness. It’s human. And silence is not strength.

 

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Trauma-Related Grief and Hidden Wounds

Without acknowledgment, without access to treatment, mental illness can quietly erode the very professionals families rely on most.

 

Why Access and Support Matter

 Mental health care must be as accessible to funeral professionals as physical safety gear. Just as gloves, respirators, and OSHA standards protect our bodies, therapy, medication, peer support, and time away must protect our minds.

Employers and associations can lead by:

  • Offering mental health coverage that includes trauma-informed therapy

  • Normalizing the use of EAP programs, counseling stipends, and peer groups

  • Building training and conversations that reduce stigma and increase awareness

 

Resources for Funeral Professionals

If you are struggling, or if you’re leading others in this profession, here are places to begin:

  • NFDA’s Work/Life Resource Center
    Offers confidential counseling, legal and financial advice, and wellness resources for funeral professionals.

  • Funeral Professionals Peer Support (FPPS)
    A peer-led community offering virtual and in-person support groups designed specifically for those in funeral service.

  • The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)
    Education, advocacy, and local chapters offering community support and training around suicide prevention.

  • National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
    Helpline, peer groups, and education for anyone navigating mental illness—for yourself or loved ones.

  • Crisis Resources

    • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (U.S.) – Call or text 988 anytime.

    • Crisis Text Line – Text HOME to 741741 for 24/7 support.

  • Grief and Trauma-Specific Therapists
    Search directories like Psychology Today and filter for trauma, grief, or first-responder experience.

These aren’t just “nice to have” resources. They are lifelines for those who quietly carry the grief of others while neglecting their own.

 

A Profession That Heals Its Own

Mental Illness Awareness Week is a reminder: we must care for the caregivers. Creating pathways for funeral professionals to acknowledge and treat mental illness is not an optional benefit; it’s an ethical responsibility.

When we make it safe to say “I’m not okay,” we don’t just protect funeral professionals. We protect the families we serve because every family deserves a caregiver who is whole, present, and supported.

 

 

Marc D Malamud

Transitioning Doula

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