I Am A Griever

Jim – Preparation

Jim shares here is no way to truly prepare for the experiences that you will see as a police officer. You can read about it, talk to veteran officers, and even watch videos, but until you are personally involved in something, you will never know how it will affect you. The best way to deal with the challenges of being a police officer is to expect the unexpected and to be prepared to handle anything that comes your way. Remember, you are not alone. There are many resources available to help you cope with the stress of the job, and there are many other officers who understand what you are going through. If you are considering a career in law enforcement, be sure to do your research and talk to as many people as you can before you make your decision

Betsy – Adoption and grief

Betsy tell her story of losing her adopted son to cancer

Betsy – Anticipation

Betsy discusses the anticipation of her adopted son dying of cancer and now or her aging parents

Joyce – A favorite memory with music

Joyce tells a story about her son supporting her and the power of music

Joyce – Being gentle on yourself

Joyce explains the importance of being gentle on yourself in grief as you face guilt and should haves

John – Lasagna

John talks about the “widower’s meal”… Lasagna, and learning how to cook for his daughters after his wife died

Adam – Story 2

Adam discusses his busy life and how he has coped after losing his mother

Betsy – Mother’s day

Betsy shares her challenges around mother’s day when her adopted son died

Left Out: Enfranchising Children’s Grief and Loss

By: Jessica Milette, MSW, RSW All human beings have the capacity to grieve: people with intellectual disabilities, those living with a traumatic brain injury, and children of all ages. However, many people can experience disenfranchised grief when someone dies. Disenfranchised grief is generally grief that is not usually openly acknowledged, socially accepted or publicly mourned.…

Kate – Stigma

Kate discusses how difficult the stigma is to deal with

Joyce -The pandemics impact on drug poisonings

Joyce talks about drug poisonings during the pandemic

Joyce- Learning to live with grief

Joyce shares a story of support from a friend and how she managed in her early grief