I Am A Griever

Suicide Loss Toolkit [Free Downloadable PDF]

November 28, 2024

Approximately 4500 people in Canada die by suicide each year. That is approximately 12 people who die by suicide each day. In 2022, 49,476 Americans died by suicide. That’s 1 death every 11 minutes. On average, 5 people grieve for every death. That leaves over 250,000 people experiencing suicide-related grief and distress. Grief Stories has…

Blog Post / I Am A Griever / I Am A Professional / Suicide / Toolkits

Scott – Process and lyrics

February 6, 2023

Scott talks about his process with lyrics and how his song “So far away” was for his mother in law. Find the song at his website www.dotbmusic.ca

I Am A Griever / Music / Video

Jim – Police culture and grief

June 13, 2023

Jim talks about how grief is a natural part of life, but it can be especially difficult to deal with when you’re in the police culture. There’s a lot of pressure to bottle up your emotions and not show weakness, but that’s not healthy. It’s important to find healthy ways to cope with your grief, whether it’s talking to a therapist, joining a support group, or simply spending time with loved ones. You’re not alone, and there are people who care about you and want to help.

First Responders / I Am A Griever / Video

Grief, Breastfeeding, and Care

September 30, 2024

In this essay, I share a bit about my story of grief and breastfeeding. I also share some thoughts about the cultural grief some people are carrying about the lack of support afforded to lactating families whose goal it is to feed their baby from their body. I use some gendered language throughout this essay…

Bereavement Professionals' Insights / Blog Post / Collective/Community Grief / I Am A Griever / I Am A Professional / I Am A Supporter / Perinatal / Supporting Others

Kate – Things I do that help

March 11, 2023

Kate talks about how art, hiking and visiting the cemetery can be very therapeutic

Art / Death By Overdose / Death of A Loved One / Death of a Sibling / Drug Poisoning and the Pandemic / I Am A Griever / Video

Kate – Getting support

March 11, 2023

Kate talks about how difficult it is to ask for support

Death By Overdose / Death of A Loved One / Death of a Sibling / Drug Poisoning and the Pandemic / I Am A Griever / Video

The First Fathers’ Day Without Dad

June 18, 2023

When you lose a person in the generation before you, you begin to think about what they meant to you. When you lose a parent, you think about all they meant, and you hoped you either lived up to the best of yourself, or in some cases where the parenting was not as instructive or kind, you hope you’ve raised yourself beyond difficult circumstances.

Blog Post / Death of A Loved One / Death of a Parent / I Am A Griever

Nicole – Pandemic Leads to Increase in Drug Poisoning

March 25, 2023

Nicole discusses the increase in drug poisonings during the pandemic due to a number of factors.

Collective/Community Grief / Death and Grief During a Pandemic / Death By Overdose / Death of A Loved One / Drug Poisoning and the Pandemic / I Am A Griever / I Am A Professional / I Am A Supporter / Video

Reflections on Mother’s Day

May 8, 2023

Mother’s day is a holiday where we show appreciation and care for the maternal roles in our lives. However, this holiday can feel very overwhelming for those of us who are grieving the death of a mother figure, a mother grieving their child, or those of us grieving the loss of not being able to become mothers ourselves.

Bereavement Professionals' Insights / Blog Post / Death of a Child / Death of A Loved One / Death of a Parent / I Am A Griever / Perinatal

Betsy – You can’t know until you know

January 26, 2023

Betsy talks about support and what really helps when one is in grief

Death of a Child / I Am A Griever / Supporting Others / Video

Jessica M – My Story

June 13, 2023

Jessica talks about losing her grandfather at 14 when her mother was terminal, her mother and aunt died when she was 15. She felt alone until she found a peer support group

Bereavement Professionals' Insights / Death of a Grandparent / Death of A Loved One / Death of a Parent / I Am A Griever / I Am A Professional / My Story Video / Video

Jim – Helping by listening

June 13, 2023

Jim – ” I talk about how to be a good listener to someone who is grieving. I believe that one of the most important things you can do for someone who is grieving is to simply listen. Don’t try to fix their problems or offer advice. Just listen and be there for them. It can be as simple as meeting for coffee or taking a walk together. You’re doing more help than you realize when you simply listen to someone.

First Responders / I Am A Griever / Supporting Others / Video