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The Population Wellness Lab, led by Dr. Christy Denckla, studies how adversity, including trauma, loss, and bereavement, affects mental health, physical health, and well-being. We are driven by the ultimate question: how do people adapt and recover from these adverse events? What is the difference between normal grief and pathological grief? How does loss shape our understanding of the world and ourselves? Ultimately, we aim to prevent trauma exposure as well as the subsequent cascade of physical and mental adverse effects at the population health level.

Phone 617-432-1760
Location

677 Huntington Avenue
Kresge Building, Room 720 Boston, MA 02115

Press & Media

Harvard experts reveal how to cope with grief: Tips to restore emotional balance

Red94 – October 27, 2025

Cómo enfrentar el duelo y reconstruir el equilibrio emocional, según especialistas de Harvard

Infobae – October 26, 2025

To navigate grief, don’t avoid it—and seek social support, says expert

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health – October 23, 2025

Aimee Crist's Living Spree Podcast

Navigating Grief and Building Resilience Together

Living Spree Podcast – October 13, 2025

UoB Grief Seminars: Dr Christy Denckla, A Public Health Perspective on Grief & Bereavement

The Grief Channel YouTube Channel – August 14, 2025

Can celebrities influence environmental issues? Experts weigh in.

ABC News – April 22, 2024

Harvard study claims climate change has negative effects on mental health

The Post Millennial – January 28, 2024

Harvard Public Health Researchers Examine Link Between Climate Change and Mental Health

The Harvard Crimson – January 26, 2024

Study: A systematic review of the effects of chronic, slow-onset climate change on mental health. Image Credit: Roschetzky Photography/Shutterstock.com

What do we know about the mental health effects of chronic, slow-onset climate change?

News-Medical – January 23, 2024

Flat vector illustration of a person in a hooded jacket walking away from a dark, stormy forest with rain clouds, moving toward a bright yellow sunlit background.

Hidden Effects of Climate Change on Mental Health

VoLo Foundation – January 19, 2024

Person with container of water balanced on head

Understanding the mental health consequences of chronic climate change

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health – January 18, 2024

Muddy water floods a swimming area as a nearby river overflowed amid torrential rain, in Chuncheon in Seoul, Aug, 10, 2022.
Yonhap/EPA via Shutterstock

Can shaming help mitigate the climate crisis? Experts offer mixed views

ABC News – August 21, 2022

Teen texting with phone

Pandemic accelerated youth mental health crisis

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health – July 29, 2022

Candle image

How To Talk About COVID Grief in The Classroom

Tech & Learning – April 7, 2021

Radio Times

Grief and mourning in a pandemic

WHYY – March 19, 2021

Group of Mourners

Year of coronavirus pandemic grieving creating ‘perfect storm’ for mental health conditions

Boston Herald – March 6, 2021

Youtube Video Cover

Is it okay to mentally distance yourself from the pandemic?

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health YouTube Channel – March 4, 2021

Youtube Video Cover

What are small ways to cope with grief during the pandemic?

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health YouTube Channel – March 4, 2021

Mourning Person Illustration

When even grief is taken away

The Harvard Gazette – March 2, 2021

Psychologist Christy Denckla says funerals and related rituals are "fundamental to how we mourn, to how we grieve, to how we reinforce social ties."

Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

Psychologist On Why Funerals Are Fundamental To Processing Grief

NPR – December 14, 2020

More Than 250,000 Are Dead. Why Is There So Little Collective Grief?

Medium – December 2, 2020

Candles, with one lit in the middle

Relearning ways to grieve

The Harvard Gazette – April 10, 2020