I Am A Griever

Grief and Parenting in the Disability Community

October 5, 2022

In this blog post, Carrie writes about being the parent and primary caregiver to a child with disabilities and grieving the loss of a child dying from their disabilities.

Blog Post / Death of a Child / Grief and Trauma / I Am A Griever / I Am A Professional / I Am A Supporter / Living with Dying / Supporting Others

John – Being helpful to someone in grief

February 23, 2023

John shares his thoughts on how to help someone in grief

Death of A Loved One / Death of a Partner / I Am A Griever / Supporting Others / Video

Jim – Significant incidents

June 13, 2023

Jim discusses being involved in a significant incident and how it’s normal to feel overwhelmed and ruminate over it. You may even start to drink or use drugs to cope. But it’s important to remember that you’re not alone. Many police officers have been through similar experiences. And there are resources available to help you get through this.One of the best things you can do is talk to a trusted friend or colleague. They can offer support and understanding. You can also seek professional help from a therapist or counselor. They can help you to process your experience and develop healthy coping mechanisms. It’s also important to remember that you can’t change the past. But you can learn from it. And you can move on. Don’t let one incident define you. You are a strong and capable person. And you will get through this.

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

Joyce – My Story

April 23, 2023

Joyce shares her story about the sudden death of her son in an accident and how she has coped by helping others in need

Death of a Child / Death of A Loved One / Grief and Trauma / I Am A Griever / My Story Video / 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

Caileigh – Advice to my younger self about grief

February 23, 2023

Caileigh talks about things that you can do to balance out feelings that it’s okay to experience all of the big feelings that you have, to find joy in little moments, and to find ways that you can cope with those big feelings.

Bereavement Professionals' Insights / Death of a Parent / I Am A Griever / I Am A Professional / Video

Jim – Humour and grief

June 13, 2023

Jim talks about how humour can help us cope with grief. “I’m Irish, and we have a saying that ‘laughter is the best medicine.’ I believe that humour can help us to see the lighter side of life, even in the midst of pain. It can help us to connect with others, and it can help us to find hope. I encourage you to find ways to laugh, even when you’re grieving. It might not always be easy, but it can make a big difference.”

First Responders / I Am A Griever / Video

Grief & Drug Poisoning Toolkit [Free Downloadable PDF]

August 29, 2024

  Navigating life, death, and loss can be overwhelming. This toolkit is designed by mental health professionals and contains information about grief, different types of grief we may experience, gentle reminders on how to move through grief, as well as tips for those who may be supporting someone in their life who is grieving. This…

Bereavement Professionals' Insights / Blog Post / Collective/Community Grief / Death By Overdose / Drug Poisoning and the Pandemic / I Am A Griever / I Am A Professional / I Am A Supporter / Supporting Others / Toolkits

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

Jessica M – Legacy

June 13, 2023

Jessica explains legacy and gives examples including her own.

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

Scott – Writing music

February 6, 2023

Scott talks about the cathartic nature of writing music stories

I Am A Griever / Music / Video

Grief & Ice Cream

January 25, 2023

When my wife of 18 years died in 2016, I became a single father missing the love of my life, and also had to learn how to raise two girls (13-17 at the time) on my own. I remember a conversation I had with my mother-in-law and oldest daughter that began as reminiscing over a person who became a lost love to all of us. We all talked about different aspects of my wife but shortly, it transformed into a “who meant more to her” fest.

Blog Post / Death of a Child / Death of A Loved One / Death of a Parent / Death of a Partner / I Am A Griever / Supporting Others